Senior Issues Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 9
|
SENIOR ISSUES NEWSLETTER
Vol. 3, No. 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Senior Issues" is written by the following Penn State Cooperative Extension
agents who comprise the Northwest Pennsylvania Aging Cluster Team: Janice
Alberico (Lawrence County), Nancy Covert (Jefferson County), Holly Hedstrom
(Erie County), and Janet McDougall (Mercer County).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Laughter Can Be Magic
When was the last time you had a good laugh? What caused it?
Unfortunately, most of us have become far too serious, losing touch with the
importance of fun.
Researchers say you will stay healthier if you laugh 15 to
20 times a day for at least
20 seconds each time. Humor and laughter are positive, healthy ways to deal
with stress and change. But many people have difficulty taking time to laugh
or finding something to laugh about.
Laughter has physical, psychological and social effects on people.
Laughter is believed to benefit human physiology by decreasing blood pressure,
stimulating the circulatory system and acting as a healing hormone.
Twenty seconds of intense laughter can quickly double the heart rate
for three to five minutes, the same result that comes from three minutes of
strenuous rowing.
Studies show that muscles in the chest, neck, abdomen, shoulders, face and
scalp get a beneficial workout and that other parts of the body are more
relaxed during laugher. In addition, laughing releases the body's natural
pain-killers, called endorphins.
A person also gains psychological benefits from laughter. Laughing helps
reduce the seriousness of a situation, acts as a stress reducer and stimulates
creativity.
Only the truly self-confident can admit and learn from mistakes. Being able
to laugh at yourself helps you let go of mistakes and bounce back to attack
the problem anew. Learn to laugh at what you do without laughing at who you
are.
Laughter is contagious and therefore helps people get along socially.
Laughter can help a person develop a positive self-concept.
Humans are by nature spontaneous and playful. Yet the older people become,
the more inhibited they seem to be, finding it somehow less appropriate to
allow themselves to express humor.
Working the funny side of life can be an adventure for you. Look for
opportunities every day to say, "That's funny." Take time to scan a cartoon
book, read the funnies in the newspaper or watch a humorous movie. Be a humor
consumer; find people with whom to laugh.
People are not born with a sense of humor, but they can develop it. Here are
some suggestions to help you add more laughter to your life:
1. Recognize the value of humor. Don't worry or analyze why people
laugh--just participate!
2. Adopt a playful attitude. Be open to silly and outrageous things.
3. Think funny. See the funny side of every situation.
4. Laugh at yourself. Acknowledge and accept that you're not perfect.
5. Laugh with others for what they do rather than for what they are.
6. Surround yourself with happy people.
7. Take yourself--but not your responsibilities--lightly.
8. Clip some stories, articles or cartoons that make you laugh and keep them
in your own "humor kit". Use the kit frequently on yourself and others.
Humor can be a major tool for gaining insight. It can help you laugh at some
of your own quirks as well as laugh with others at their fun-worthy failings.
Laughing may not cure all your ills, but it can make the bad times easier to
take.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CAREGIVER CONCERNS
FUNNY BONE CONNECTED TO THE HEALTH BONE
What a way to exercise! Simply laugh more. It gives the muscles in the
chest, neck, abdomen, shoulders, face and scalp a workout. It relaxes other
parts of the body too. Laughter decreases blood pressure and stimulates the
circulatory system. It acts as a healing hormone as it releases the body's
natural pain killers called Endorphins. A good laugh is also good for your
mental health.
Recently, I attended a conference which had a workshop session on humor.
Since I always like a good laugh, I selected that workshop. Let's share a
laugh , read on!
One of the most interesting things the presenter did, was to talk about our
Endorphins. She had a neat way to remember the name for these wonderful
helpers for our bodies. She told us to tilt our heads to the left, then to
the right then keep repeating tilting our heads, while we listened for a sound
like water inside our heads. She said that sound was the dolphins swimming
around inside our heads. Dolphins are happy water mammals, who, many
scientists believe exhibit a sense of humor. "So," said our workshop leader,
"we need to remember that laughter keeps our very own head dolphins happy."
Well, maybe you had to be there to see how funny that was. But, I'm sure you
can visualize a whole room full of, what seemed like reasonable adults,
tilting their heads back and forth with big smiles on their faces to some
unheard music of the soul.
The well centered caregiver (and you are well centered, if you saw dolphins a
paragraph ago) knows the importance of humor and takes good care of herself.
The Dolphin-Lady's List for How to Take Care of Yourself:
* Stay healthy, it's hard to manage caregiving if you're feeling tired, sick,
or rundown.
* Take care of your feelings. If your spirits are low, even everyday tasks
are troublesome.
* Eat a good breakfast and don't skip meals. Being a caregiver takes lots of
energy. Eat the right foods at well planned intervals during your day. You
wouldn't think of filling your charge with empty calories, so set a good
nutritional example. Eat those veggies, fruits and whole grains!
* Many caregivers say the hardest part of caregiving is simply getting enough
sleep. If you've been up frequently during the night, try to pace yourself
the next day. Rest before you get over tired.
* Exercise, if only a quick stretch exercise or two. It will give you a
lift. If possible a short walk outside is a great pick-me-up. Relaxing is
actually a part of good exercise. Bend at the waist and just let your top
half dangle loosely. It's called the "rag doll" relaxing stretch. It's
especially helpful if you sat up in a chair at bedside all night.
* Take advantage of friends and neighbors who offer to help. Even if you
don't want to leave them in complete control, they can stay bedside while you
do a short walk or take a quick shower. They can read and converse while you
fix a meal or have an uninterrupted phone conversation with a friend. Just
being with old friends for awhile can be very relaxing.
* If at all possible, give yourself an occasional afternoon or evening out.
* Even on days when you can't get away, when everything seems to be piling
up, give yourself some kind words. There are no rewards, bonuses, or
certificates of worth for being a good caregiver. There are always some
things, big or little, that you do well. Give yourself a compliment. You
deserve it!
* Take a mini-mind vacation. Look out the window if you have any kind of
natural view, or into the window of your mind remembering a special place that
you would like to visit. See yourself there doing something pleasant. Then
come back to the present. Sometimes that's the only break you can get, so try
it.
* Try smiling for no reason at all, it helps to look up while smiling. It's
hard to feel down after doing that.
SELF TALK
Self talk is what you say to yourself as you go through your day. Positive
affirmations are healthy self talk. Here are some positive ways to thank
yourself for doing a good job of caregiving:
* I am doing the best I can do.
* Good going!
* You outdid yourself today!
* Now you're perking!
* That's quite an improvement!
* You're getting better every day!
* Your brain's in gear today!
* Congratulations!
* Keep up the good work!
* Now you have it!
* Excellent!
* That's the way!
* Outstanding!
* Wonderful!
* Marvelous!
* Terrific!
* Now that's a fine job!
* Nice going!
You might also use these positive affirmations to compliment your patient
whenever he or she needs a boost. They also come in handy if you're cheering
on another caregiver friend, family member or neighbor who may be helping you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs
and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have
questions about the physical access provided, please contact the extension
office in advance of your participation or visit.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons
shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment
without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability,
performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state
or federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State University does not
discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or
handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or
veteran status. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy
to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201
Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801: Tel. (814) 865-4700/V,
(814) 863-1150/TTY.
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement
by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed by: Dan Lago, Ph.D.
Adult Development and Aging Specialist
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences
323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
Voice: (814) 863-7871
E-mail: djl@psu.edu