Purpose May Lead to Increased Longevity for Seniors

By 8  am on

Purpose and Longevity Link

At Toronto Home Care Assistance, our revolutionary approach to care, The Balanced Care Method, encourages seniors to engage in regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet, but also stresses the importance of living a life with purpose in the golden years. Studies show that seniors who live with a sense of purpose enjoy numerous physical and emotional benefits that lead to longer, healthier, and happier lives.

  • Reduced Risk for Illness – Scientists have found that when an individual strives to live with purpose, a biological process is activated within the body that boosts immune functioning. By striving to live a purposeful life after retirement, seniors are better able to fend off illness and are also less likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and other stress-related conditions.
  • Cognitive Preservation – Seniors who live with a sense of purpose have also been found to be 2.4 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Plaques and tangles, the protein deposits responsible for damaging the brain when an individual has Alzheimer’s, are much less common in the brain of those who feel they have purpose in life.
  • Greater Motivation – Older adults who live purposefully also tend to gravitate towards healthier activities because they want to remain healthy enough to retain their independence and regular routines. Purpose in this situation provides seniors with the motivation and energy needed to keep healthy habits. As overall health improves, so does their expectancy.
  • Enhanced Confidence – When a senior is able to make meaningful contributions to a friend, family member, or the community, he or she is able to feel a sense of purpose that allows him or her to enjoy higher levels of confidence and self esteem which experts say are necessary to lead a long and healthy life.

Finding purpose in late-life doesn’t mean that a senior must radically change his or her daily activities. Starting a new hobby, volunteering in the community, making an effort to connect with friends and family on a regular basis, and caring for a plant or pet are just a few of the many ways in which seniors can enjoy a heightened sense of purpose in their everyday lives.

To learn more about ensuring a safe, healthy, and high life quality for a senior in your life, call (416) 488-8777 and learn more about in-home care from Home Care Assistance of Toronto. Although we are recognized as the Toronto live-in care experts, we also provide hourly care for seniors who need help on an as-needed basis. Find out how our caregivers can benefit your loved one by scheduling a complimentary, no-obligation consultation today!

Request Free Information or
Schedule a Free in-Home Consultation