Search
Going to Church Can Keep Seniors Healthy
-
Maintaining good health during our lives is important, especially as we age. Sometimes growing older can bring about roadblocks (injuries, illnesses, lifestyle changes, etc.) to our fitness goals. One method of maintaining better mental and physical health is to attend church.
Dr. William Strawbridge of the Human Population Laboratory in Berkeley, CA, managed a 30-year study of 2,600 people. He found that those who regularly attended church had lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems, less trouble managing weight, and experienced less issues with anxiety and depression than non-churchgoers. Though not all of the churchgoers started with better lifestyle habits, healthier habits emerged as a result of church attendance. This seemed to prove that going to church improved and created better health choices, as opposed to just attracting a healthier set of people.
Attending a positive church environment can have many benefits for seniors. The social contact is incredibly helpful for older people to engage their mind, help them make and maintain friendships, keep them from isolation and loneliness, and help them feel useful and needed. Many senior-specific events are organized by the church to keep their elderly members engaged and cared for. This encourages both social and physical activity. The church community can be a family-type environment that rallies to help its members in times of need, and provides social gatherings and activities in line with member beliefs. For example, many churchgoers can work together to do things like exercise, and programs such as SilverSneakers (which is offered via Medicare Advantage plans) can offer places to do so without the need for expensive monthly memberships.
Having faith in a higher power and a home after death can greatly boost mental well-being of elderly churchgoers. Having a positive and hopeful attitude about their future can help give seniors the strength to deal with loss and sickness. Hope gives them the strength to recover from illness or depression and move on by providing a positive coping mechanism, as opposed to over medicating and subsequent substance abuse.
Prayer can encourage relaxation and increase attention, compassion, and empathy. These feelings of contentment discourage stress and can keep your body healthy for the long term. They can also provide a sense of comfort, support, and hope in difficult times. Many people have dealt with traumatic events, such as loss of loved ones and post-traumatic stress disorder, by relying on prayer and their church community.
With so many studies showing regular churchgoers as having lower blood pressure, less anxiety or depression, less mental illness, and longer lives overall, why not give church a try? The key is to find a positive church environment that lets you foster your relationship with God and His teachings. Then, start to get involved in community outreach programs and social events with your new church family. Make friends and be a friend to those in your church. Grow in your love of God and the Church and be grateful for the good days and good people around you. You may realize that you feel happier and healthier in this positive and more nurturing environment than you ever have before.
