45 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 15, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Stress reduction and aging
BY DR. SHELDON ORNSTEIN
ED.D, RN, LNHA
The aged frequently experience a decrease
in their ability to cope with the multiple
stressors of life that can result in a waning
of their capacity to adapt. The following is
a review of several themes that are recommended
by the researchers and that offer
practical suggestions for those who are dealing
with the excessiveness of life’s stressors.
Theme I – Progressive Relaxation
This is a method for stress reduction that
is achieved through (1) tensing and relaxing
of specific muscles or muscle groups, and (2)
through imagery or recall of pleasant events
or experiences.
Theme II – Meditation
Meditation is a form of relaxation and a
means of coping with stress. The following
are two in particular that are found in our
western culture – Zen and transcendental
meditation. Both are designed to induce a
state of relaxation. However, it has also been
suggested that to quiet the mind, practice
and perseverance are necessary.
Theme III – Arranging
One’s Environment
This is, according to one researcher, a
means for reducing the potential for stress by
taking advantage of a quiet environment, a
place where one can take a momentary break
to contemplate or to re-energize.
Stress arises not only from worry, anger,
expectations and demands, but also from
loneliness, noise or lighting. Occasionally,
getting lost in some creative pursuit is an excellent
way for dealing with stress. For some
it can be knitting, whereas others may find
painting a pastoral scene as a way of lowering
stress. Also, stroking and petting the family’s
pet or simply watching fish with assorted
exotic colors and shapes in an aquarium can
serve as a unique form of stress reduction.
Theme IV – Environmental
Sensitivity
The physical components of environmental
sensitivity are air, water and land mass.
These are but three examples in which the
elderly individual’s health and wellness can
either be enhanced or limited. The researcher
States, declares, “These environmental components
that the elderly may rely on are (1)
the security of their home and concern for
their belongings, and (2) a familiarity with
neighborhood and friendly others. However
if there is a ‘crush’ on destruction of any one
of these levels, it can with time, determine
the older individual’s response to either wellness
or illness.”
Theme V – Personal Space
According to the researcher Brighton,
“Personal space refers to the aged person who
may either be living in the community or an
institution and is unaware of the concept of
personal space that can reinforce a state of
wellness.” The following are several examples
of personal space:
• A sunlit porch with comfortable
seating and a moment of stillness;
• Relaxing before a wintry fireplace
and perhaps with a glass of wine;
• Finding a secluded reading corner
or nook at home;
• Engaging in conversation with
a friend or relative of a similar
generation;
• Enjoying the natural occurrence
of a rainbow after a storm and
contemplating its significance.
Instead of watching the aged individual
languish, it becomes the caregiver’s role to
aid the person and advise him about the opportunities
that afford a better and healthier
environment.
One example of this philosophy is when
a nursing facility encourages the prospective
resident to bring with them meaningful
items to their new home as a way of recreating
a familiar home environment for their
mental and physical comfort.
Theme VI – Energy and
Conservation
The researcher Robles, suggests that
“Energy conservation is an important environmental
issue that may well influence
the health and continued wellness of an
admitted resident, thereby reducing nagging
stress issues.” For example, body heat
and the comfort it offers can be adequately
maintained by donning several layers of
clothing with additional use of blankets at
Photo via Getty Images
night. However, the aged individual who
resides in a facility can have difficulty
tolerating a sharp temperature drop. And
if that drop continues, it can quickly cause
bodily discomfort, progressive stress and
complaints to a family member.
The following is a case study about Sally,
an eighty-five year old woman who has been
attempting to understand about several
age-related changes she’s been experiencing
which were causing her extreme stress
and anxiety. Here are her musings about
her stress. “Strange how these things creep
up on you. I was really surprised and upset
when I first realized it was not the headlights
on my car that were growing dim but rather
my aging night vision. Then I remembered
how other bits of awareness became clear and
forced me to recognize that I, that sixteenyear
old in me was now experiencing those
normal changes that go along with getting
old.”
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