Physical and Mental Health of Seniors Linked to Optimism, Wisdom, and Loneliness

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found wisdom, loneliness, income, and sleep quality affect the physical and mental health of older men and women in senior care communities, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers specified a significant association between cognitive function and physical mobility, wisdom, and satisfaction with life. Physical health correlated with mental well-being, resilience, and younger age, while mental health was connected to optimism, self-compassion, and reduced levels of loneliness and disrupted sleep. "Psychological traits like optimism, resilience, wisdom and self-compassion were found to be protective, while loneliness seemed to be a risk factor," noted University of California, San Diego Professor Dilip Jeste. "An 85-year-old can be functioning better than a 65-year-old due to protective and risk factors." A common model of supported senior housing offers a continuum of care, from independent living to assisted living to full-time care for physical and cognitive impairment. Most continuing care communities face rising costs as residents move to greater levels of assisted living. "Delaying these transitions through facilitating longer independent living should be an important healthcare goal," argued Jeste.