Many people find growing older to be too serious, but it has been shown that maintaining a good sense of humor as we age helps us deal with the adjustments, difficulties, and unanticipated challenges of aging. A healthy dose of humor also helps with some of the most prevalent health issues associated with aging.
It is important to know the key benefits of humor for your loved one, especially if they are in a retirement community. This article discusses four key categories, including:
Humor Reduces Stress
Laughter is thought to work by reducing stress, which is linked to several detrimental effects on our health. Laughing can ease tension in the muscles, reduce blood pressure, and increase blood oxygen levels. Laughing boosts the immune system and counteracts the damaging impacts of stress.
Humor Makes You Feel Good
A sense of humor can help people perceive suffering more favorably. It enhances the defense system and has been shown to be good for cardiovascular health. Laughter boosts the body’s T-lymphocytes (T-cells), lowers serum cortisol levels, improves cholesterol levels, and keeps our blood vessels healthy.
Humor and Clinical Benefits
Research from the past five years suggests that humor may have therapeutic and beneficial rehabilitative effects. The results of applying humor to different therapies have shown better learning ability, delayed recall as well as enhanced short-term memory, which in turn improve their quality of life. Many seniors may have age-associated memory deficiencies.
Humor is Good for Your Brain
The benefits of humor for the brain include a great method to exercise your brain. A good laugh can be an extremely sophisticated mental practice that teaches us to approach aging and the concepts of aging in novel, creative ways. Even the most basic pun, according to researchers, requires the brain to change its viewpoint.
Ideas to Make Your Loved One Laugh
Irrespective of whether your loved one is residing at home or in an independent living community, all it takes to make them smile is a little imagination. Here are some suggestions that professionals recommend:
- Get them a pet: The majority of people, even the elderly, experience immediate pleasure when they have a dog, cat, or other furry friend. Taking care of a pet will help your senior maintain a sense of belongingness.
- Take them to a laughter yoga session: Laughter yoga, also known as “Hasya Yoga,” is an enjoyable and secure form of exercise, even for elderly people who have mobility issues and are residing at an assisted living
- Join them in a dance: Most seniors remember dancing the night away with friends and family to their favorite music. Take your senior out dancing or do it at home to give them some “bounce” in their stride.
- Meet up with old friends: Plan for them to unexpectedly run into some old acquaintances at a park or restaurant. This might require some planning. Then, take a seat and enjoy their laughter as they enjoy themselves. Show a senior who is housebound how to use social media to stay in touch with old acquaintances or make new ones.
- Crack jokes: Tell your loved one a clean jest every time you see them. Refer them to a reputable joke source on the Internet, if they begin to react favorably. You could also take them to a comedy club in your community, but make sure the comedian’s sense of humor is compatible with theirs.
- Checkout old photos: Look through old photos of your loved one having fun with friends and family. Nothing puts a smile on a senior’s face like sharing long-forgotten photos and sharing happy recollections captured in time.
- Watch funny TV shows or comedy movies: Find them online after asking your seniors about their favorite comedies on TV or in movies. Then, laugh a bit while unwinding on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn!
