What Are Protective Factors for Seniors?

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that 22% of Americans will be over the age of 65 by 2040.
As the aging population grows, mitigating common health risks for seniors becomes a higher priority. If your loved one is among these older adults, investing in protective factors early is key to a long and happy life in Jackson, TN's affordable, music-loving, historically significant community.
But what are protective factors, exactly? Read on to learn about the risks of aging and to define protective factors in detail.
The Risks of Aging
Seniors are at risk for a variety of issues as a result of their age.
Social isolation is a major problem that one in three older adults faces, according to the University of Michigan. Seniors are at a higher risk for lonelinessbecause of:
- Major life changes
- Losing loved ones
- Decreasing mobility
- Cognitive challenges
- A lack of transportation
This loneliness can lead to mental health issues. The World Health Organization reports that 14% of Americans over 60 have mental health problems. Seniors also account for over 27% of suicide deaths.
Depression and anxiety are the most common senior mental health issues, and the lack of emotional support for seniors outside of special senior communities makes these challenges worse.
Isolation and depression can also lead to physical health issueslike:
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Weak immune systems
- Cognitive decline, up to and including dementia
This is especially bad since aging bodies are naturally more prone to medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer!
What Are Protective Factors for Seniors?
Luckily, it's possible to mitigate risk with protective factors. But what are protective factors, exactly?
Essentially, they're anything that decreases the likelihood of an older adult experiencing problems for which they're at risk.
A simple example of a protective factor would be fall prevention tools. Since older adults are frequently sent to the ER for fall-related injuries, accessible apartment features such as railings and grab bars are a simple protective factor.
Another example of a protective factor might be a robust community of like-minded individuals. Seniors are at a high risk of loneliness, but those in a top-notch Tennessee community can unlock senior social activities that keep them happy and mentally healthy.
Basically, where there is a risk, it can be mitigated with protective measures. Protective measures are therefore as diverse as the risks associated with aging.
Environmental Protective Factors
Environmental protective factors ensure that seniors live in an environment that supports mental and physical well-being. Their home should have accessibility features like:
- Wide hallways and doorways for wheelchair/walker access
- Wheelchair ramps
- Grab bars and railings
- No-slip mats and shower grip bars
- Illuminated entryways
- Sprinkler systems and smoke alarms
These support a safe lifestyle and prevent injuries.
There's no better way to reap these benefits than by moving into a quality independent living community. In addition to accessibility, apartments also mitigate mental health riskswith great surroundings. Seniors can enjoy:
- Large, open windows
- Easy-to-navigate floor plans
- Ample storage space
- Walk-in closets and showers
- Comfortable bedding and furniture
- Carpeted flooring
- Private patios connected to each apartment
Beyond that, we ensure that all our residents' needs are met with access to essential services.Neither seniors nor their families need to worry about a lack of assistance.
Individual Protective Factors
Once seniors live in an environment that meets their basic needs, they must invest in individual protective factors.
These are things that aging adults can do for themselves to stay in great shape. Those reaping independent living benefits can develop internal strength with:
- Positive attitudes that keep them excited for each day ahead
- A sense of autonomy and control as they navigate daily life
- Meaningful, purpose-driven mindsets as they face each day
- Engagement in learning opportunities that keep the mind active
- Resilience that lets seniors bounce back in the face of challenges and setbacks
Developing strong coping strategies is a huge part of this. Individual protective factors rely on:
- Emotional regulation
- Strong coping mechanisms
- Mindfulness exercises
Senior living communities offer help with these things. There are mindfulness workshops and therapeutic exercisesfor residents to help build coping mechanisms. This ensures strength and happiness as they age gracefully.
Social Protective Factors
Social protective factors involve seniors building a strong support network.
Some social protective factors include:
- A sense of solidarity within a community
- Active participation in social activities
- A feeling of connection with others in the same space
- A strong support network of family and friends that seniors are comfortable sharing their feelings and thoughts with
- Easy access to the internet and telephone services to make contacting loved ones simple
Senior social activities are one of the best ways to stave off the isolation and loneliness that lead to mental and physical health risks. At Jackson Meadow, seniors can attend social eventslike:
- Group walks
- Chair exercises
- Card and dice games
- Ice cream socials
- Bingo
- Karaoke
- Trivia
- Movie screenings
- Bible study
- Live musical performances
- Arts and crafts workshops
- Happy hour drinks
After meeting at these events, community residents can easily spend time together in their apartments. We also offer a wide range of community common areas, including lounges and restaurant-style dining. Outdoor relaxation spaces and paved walkways also make it easy to spend time with friends in the fresh air.
Since everyone lives within the same community walls, meeting up with treasured companions has never been easier!
Boost Senior Mental Health With Quality Senior Living
So, what are protective factors for seniors? Basically, they are things that family members of compassionate community caregivers can do to mitigate the risk of future mental or physical health problems.
Understanding protective factors for seniors is the first step toward implementing them, but ensuring senior safety isn't as simple as it sounds. That's where the best Jackson, TN, independent living community comes in!
Our team offers healthy aging strategies for residents. We offer emotional support for seniors who live independently and take care of most of their daily tasks autonomously.
There's nothing quite like the supportive community that Jackson Meadow residents rely on, so schedule a tour to see what we're all about!