If your elderly loved one used to write more often when he or she was younger, encourage him or her to get into the habit again. People over 65 have much to gain from making writing a part of their daily routine, and Anchorage caregivers discuss a few of these major advantages.
1. Enhance Memory, Comprehension, and Communication Skills
When your loved one writes, the brain searches for the words to express his or her thoughts. Your loved one then composes and recomposes those thoughts as his or her hands form the letters of the words, encouraging cognitive recall and strengthening the hand-brain connection. According to a report from Stanford University, writing has critical connections to speaking, which means focusing on better writing skills can also lead to better speaking skills.
2. Reduce Stress
Writing allows your loved one to vent feelings of sadness, anger, and other painful emotions, which makes it possible to feel calmer and more present in the moment. Journaling also helps clarify thoughts, allowing your loved one to see solutions to problems that may be worrying him or her. It can even help your loved one understand another person’s point of view and pave the way to resolving conflicts that may be causing stress.
3. Boost Self-Confidence
Writing about positive experiences allows your loved one to relive those moments, which triggers the release of dopamine and endorphins that boost mood and self-esteem. A journal can also serve as a catalog of achievements your loved one can revisit for affirmation in moments of self-doubt.
4. Create Self-Discipline
Discipline is like a muscle that becomes stronger with more practice, and the discipline required to make writing a regular habit can spread to other areas of your loved one’s life. The daily practice of writing can make it easier for your loved one to adopt other healthy habits like exercise.
5. Increase Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a measure of how well we perceive and manage our emotions and understand the emotions of others. Journaling is a way for seniors to understand themselves better. Your loved one can gain insight into what makes him or her happy as well as greater understanding of situations that may be toxic to his or her physical or emotional health. Increased self-awareness can also allow your loved one to be more empathetic toward others.
Writing is one of many ways your loved one can get the daily mental stimulation he or she needs. At Home Care Assistance, all of our caregivers are trained in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to boost brain health. For more information on CTM and the home care Anchorage, AK, seniors rely on, call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers at (907) 770-0907 today.