Stress. It’s everywhere. Termed a “national mental health crisis” by the American Psychological Association, stress gained national attention in 1983 when Time magazine called it “The Epidemic of the Eighties” and “America’s #1 Health Problem.”

Today, nearly 40 years later, stress is at an all-time high for everyone - in particular, senior citizens.

At Conviva Care Centers, we are dedicated helping our senior patients not just cope but successfully reduce and eradicate stressors in their lives. Conviva is focused on senior primary care that enables its patients to age well.

Seniors are particularly prone to this health menace because they have a lot to deal with. Their stressors are many, including: ongoing health issues, the cost of medications, personal finances, fear of losing independence, coping with the fallout of COVID-19, loneliness due to family members living far away, and an inability to socialize and remain active.

Additionally, women traditionally bear a larger burden of stress versus men. That is because at home, they inherently take on several important roles - providing care to loved ones, shopping for food and other household necessities, taking on daily chores and much more.

Common Symptoms

Accepting a gradual loss of independence is a major concern. In addition to its primary care services, Conviva helps its senior patients cope by providing a range of services to meet their daily needs: transportation, food and medication deliveries, easy scheduling of Telemedicine sessions, and modern upgrades to maximize efficiency and patient comfort.

Another warning sign is increased weight gain triggered by excessive boredom. Keeping the mind and body active is essential to aging well and exercising on a regular basis does wonders. Also, developing meaningful relationships and socializing is very important, which Conviva’s Activity Centers complement with workshops and classes that include fitness – providing ways for seniors to interact and socialize together.

More Ways to Cope

Stress relief can also be achieved through daily walks, exercising at the gym, going for a swim, meditation and Yoga.

A healthy diet is also key. “Everything in moderation” should be seniors’ rule of thumb when planning meals, he adds. Planning ahead and keeping an open mind and positive attitude when hurdles arise are other ways seniors can reduce stress in their daily lives.

Outreach to their personal health care provider and/or a mental health specialist is another way to gain needed support.

ABOUT CONVIVA

Conviva continues to reinvent excellence in healthcare by delivering meaningful patient relationships focused on producing optimal health outcomes. Conviva has more than 110 convenient locations throughout Florida (Broward County, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County and Tampa/Gulf Coast) and Texas (Corpus Christi, El Paso and San Antonio). The vast community of Conviva Care Centers includes a multi-disciplinary team of more than 300 primary care physicians and over 800 affiliated specialists who provide a wide range of vital healthcare services that patients require daily, including the advantages of senior care activity centers and 24/7 on-call providers. Conviva measures its success by its patients’ clinical outcomes and long-term health benefits. To learn more, visit ConvivaCareCenters.com, or call (833) CONVIVA.