Healthy Lifestyles

Mental health includes emotional stability, the joy to live and good interpersonal relationships. Common mental problems of elders include :

• Distress and sense of helplessness due to physical deterioration in function, for example, blurred vision and hearing difficulty

• Adjustment difficulty after retirement, for example, loss of financial independence, feeling of emptiness for lack of life goal, etc.

• Social isolation, and feelings of out of touch with the world owing to the rapid changing environment

• Loss of confidence and self worth, misconception that family members and society no longer respect them

• Sense of loneliness as adult children leave the family

How to maintain mental health

Continue to participate

Retain social ties and participate actively in community

• Cultivate appropriate hobby and redevelop favorite pursuits to maintain joy in living

• Keep an eye on current issues and avoid losing contact with society

• Know community resources to reduce social isolation

Continue to contribute

• Care for the family members and contribute, for example, by helping in childcare which can add to the sense of self worth and living enjoyment

• Share experiences and wisdom with the younger generation, for example, by acting as advisor and volunteer

Maintain financial independence

• Have advanced planning in finance to safeguard standard of living. Seek help from government in case of need

Related topics

Aging

Stress in the Elderly

Depression

Reference :

Resource Book on Psychosocial Health Promotion in the Elderly (Traditional Chinese Only)