It’s getting clearer every year that mental health is just as important for our well-being as physical health. In fact, one study showed that strong connections with community and family, as well as engagement with meaningful activities like hobbies, were better predictors of increased longevity than nearly any physical trait—including genetics.
However, many seniors in Columbus feel lonely, isolated and anxious, and some health conditions can impose barriers that make it worse. For instance, difficulties with mobility or fatigue can make it hard to leave home, connect with others and engage with the world.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help seniors in Columbus care for themselves, stay engaged and boost their mental health.
How Columbus Seniors Can Improve Mental Health
From art exhibits and botanical gardens to group workouts and outings, there are plenty of ways for seniors to stay engaged and care for themselves. Here are some of the best options:
- Dive Into the Art World
Exercising the mind and engaging with ideas isn’t just a way to satisfy curiosity: It can actually improve senior brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. That’s because it helps improve neuroplasticity, our brains’ ability to adapt to and appreciate new ideas and situations. And as it happens, there’s a great place to stay engaged right in your backyard: The Columbus Museum of Art (CMOA).
CMOA constantly rotates its exhibitions, so there’s always something new to explore. Nigerian-American artist Mimi Onuoha’s These Networks in Our Skin examines the impact of technology, while the interactive Wonder Room invites guests to cultivate a sense of joy and wonder as they imagine how the world could be.
CMOA offers discounted tickets and memberships for seniors in Columbus, as well as free admission for all on Sundays. If your loved one is a serious art aficionado, they can even volunteer as a docent, a highly-trained arts educator and communicator. CMOA docents offer visitors of all ages a window into the art world, and gain access to private social events and art trips around the country. It’s a significant time commitment, but it’s also a great way for art-loving seniors to connect with the community, get inspired and have fun all at once.
- Engage Your Body and Mind
Physical and mental health are deeply linked: Our minds impact our bodies, and our bodies impact our minds. Mental engagement is crucial for seniors’ mental health, but so is physical activity. In fact, one study showed that regular light exercise can boost their mood, mitigate symptoms of depression and reduce the risk of dementia.
Exercising and participating in hobbies and other activities can both be difficult for many seniors. However, they’re both easier to engage in—and more effective for boosting mental health—if they’re done with a team. While working out alone can be hard and boring, a weekly exercise class with friends tends to feel more like a social occasion. Similarly, activities like book clubs, bowling leagues and crafting classes are all opportunities to socialize and build friendships with like-minded people.
Seniors in Columbus are in luck: the Westerville Parks and Recreation department offers classes for seniors to help your loved one connect with their community over shared interests, exercise and more. Make workouts something to look forward to by scheduling them for yoga, dance, or cardio drumming class. Help them get the creative juices flowing with lessons in pottery, watercolor painting or memoir writing, or feed their competitive side with a game of chess or mahjong.
The department also organizes regular outings for seniors to spots like wineries, museums and movie theaters. They even host trips to a local escape room, where your loved one will work as part of a team to solve a series of exciting puzzles.
- Get In Touch With Nature
The science is in to support what many nature lovers already know: Spending time outside is good for your mental health. Just a few hours a week in nature (as long as it’s not for work) can reduce stress, boost creativity and even improve sleep. People with regular access to green spaces have even been shown to have better concentration and fewer depression symptoms.
In addition to a wide variety of hiking trails in the area, there’s a fantastic spot to enjoy nature right here for seniors in Columbus: the Franklin Park Conservatory. The Conservatory’s greenhouses and gardens are home to over 400 species of plants from around the world, lovingly cultivated and displayed among picturesque walking paths. Many of their gardens and exhibitions are in enclosed greenhouses, so it’s also a fantastic destination for rainy days.
The Conservatory is also home to a number of unique and delightful exhibitions. Watch a glassblowing demonstration at the Hot House, or catch one of their rotating exhibits like Nature Connects, where you’ll see common garden sights like hummingbirds, mushrooms and butterflies captured in startlingly detailed LEGO sculptures.
Get Help From Companion Care
Simply having a day-to-day companion is one of the most important factors for seniors’ mental health. With companion care from FirstLight Home Care of Franklin County, your loved one will have a dedicated caregiver who makes life easier by helping them with everyday tasks like housekeeping, bathing and transportation. But more than that, they’ll have a kind, genuine friend they can always count on.
Contact us today to learn how we can help care for your loved one.