Mindfulness

Mindfulness contributes to our healthy well-being.

In November Rachel Schwager, our Wellness Coordinator, gave a lecture to the residents on the topic of Mindfulness. Two good definitions she used for Mindfulness were “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations” and “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us”. Mindfulness training is proven by research to offer a wide range of physical, mental and emotional health benefits for seniors. Meditation is often used as a tool to practice Mindfulness and has been shown to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s, enhance digestion, develop a more focused mind, help manage mood and emotions, improve memory, and promote relaxation and calmness. The lecture was so well received by our residents that Rachel has now made it a weekly class. The class is 30 minutes, once a week, where Rachel leads the residents through different exercises and techniques. So far the class has been well attended and received great feedback. We look forward to seeing how it grows and continues to help our residents in the future.