Keeping the Brain sharp.

Everyone connected to the health profession, or anyone who has ever nursed a sick family member, understands the importance of a good mental attitude. In a world of ever more complicated equipment and ever-changing drugs, it is very difficult to always know what to do to best supplement your care. But one thing that will always have a positive impact on the healing process is to have a strong positive attitude.

In the face of great adversity, and often prolonged pain and suffering; keeping one’s spirits up falls into the category of “Easier said than done”, but the advantages are well documented.

Staying Well

A positive out-look can trump even genetics in determining longevity and wellness. A strong “Will to live” is a powerful tool to help one get well, but it is an even more powerful weapon against getting ill in the first place. The truth is “Grumpy old men” seldom live to be “Grumpy old men.”

Here are a few of those “Easier said than done”, tips for maintaining a good out-look.
1. Work to develop the attitude that you can obtain anything you set out to achieve.
2. Set high, but reasonable expectations.
3. Actively try to eliminate obstacles in the way of your goals.
4. Don’t let negative people bring you down, and can stop you from accomplishing your goals.
5. Surround yourself with positive people in your life.


Bench-press with your mind

Think of your mind as a muscle. Body-builders are forever pushing, flexing and challenging their muscles to keep them strong- we must all do the same thing with our minds. Learning is a life time process.

1. Read a book, This is particularly true when you reach for text books.
2. Take a class. No it’s not just for the young. In fact, free from the worry about grade point averages, continuing education can be both fun and challenging.
3. Puzzles, any puzzles, can help keep your mind sharp, but the more difficult the better.
4. Explore your artistic side- painting, drawing; sculpture all can all keep those neurons firing.
5. Surround your self with interesting people.
6. Engage in the real “Art of conversation”, not just pleasantries



Dr. Glenn Ostir, a Lead researcher at the Sealy Center on Aging, explained it this way: "I believe that there is a connection between mind and body – and that our thoughts and attitudes/emotions affect physical functioning, and over all health, whether through direct mechanisms, such as immune function, or indirect mechanisms, such as social support networks."

There is a school of thought that says, keep the mind young, and the body will follow.

Senior Care Resources can help provide the information, sources, and manpower to help you care for your loved ones and keep them on a positive path to wellness.

Larry Lubell

SCR