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Mindfulness Meditation : Improving Mental Health in Older Adults

Mindfulness Meditation : Improving Mental Health in Older Adults. Kaitlin Thimann MHLTHSCI 574: Health & Optimal Aging December 16, 2012. INTRODUCTION. Mindfulness meditation is one tool that has become increasingly popular to improve mental health in adults.

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Mindfulness Meditation : Improving Mental Health in Older Adults

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  1. Mindfulness Meditation: Improving Mental Health in Older Adults Kaitlin Thimann MHLTHSCI 574: Health & Optimal Aging December 16, 2012

  2. INTRODUCTION • Mindfulness meditation is one tool that has become increasingly popular to improve mental health in adults. • Mindfulness meditation is “rooted in Eastern religion and philosophy, namely Buddhism” (Bauer-Wu, 2010, p. 36). (Hover, n.d.)

  3. Helps increase mental flexibility. mindfulness

  4. Moving into American Medicine • Mindfulness meditation moved into Western medicine with the help from Jon Kabat-Zinn. • Jon Kabat-Zinn is a Professor of Medicine and the founding Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. • Jon Kabat-Zinn and his program were featured prominently in the award-winning PBS television series Healing and the Mind, and the profound effects of this work have begun to be strongly supported by a large body of scientific research. (Kabat-Zinn, n.d)

  5. Mental Health in Older Adults • Depression affects more than 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans aged 65 years or older (Duckworth, 2009). • In the United States, the annual economic, indirect cost of mental illness is estimated to be $79 billion. Most of that amount—approximately $63 billion—reflects the loss of productivity as a result of illnesses (Fitzpatrick, 2006).

  6. Causes of Depression • Poor Physical Health • Loneliness & Isolation • Personal Loss (Baden, Zefa, & Corbis, 2008)

  7. Causes of Depression • Poor Physical Health: • Physical disabilities creates low mobility • Loss of independence; require assistance to care for yourself • Feel burdensome to family and friends • (Black Dog Institute, 2012) (Care from the Heart, 2007)

  8. Causes of Depression • Loneliness & Isolation • Lack of close family ties and close friendships • Living alone or in a retirement/assisted living facility • Little participation in social activities & community because of physical illness or lack of transportation (Smart, 2011 ) • (Black Dog Institute, 2012)

  9. Causes of Depression • Personal Loss • Loss of Independence • Loss of Health & Lifestyle • Experience death of loved ones • Martial Partner • Parents • Siblings • Friends • Pets • (Black Dog Institute, 2012) (Aanen, 2007)

  10. Prevention & Alleviation • Teach Wellness Prevention • Teach individuals skills to face & deal with life challenges. • Teach skills to deal with moth mental and physical health challenges.

  11. Types of Mindfulness Meditation • Mindful Breathing • Body Scan • Mindful Movement • Mindful Walking • Loving Kindness • Mindful Eating

  12. Currently Used Practices Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Technique that helps individuals to take control of their own health, both mental and physical. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy “Meditation-based intervention designed to reduce recurrence in people with histories of relapsing unipolar major depression” (Smith & Senthinathan, 2007, p.346).

  13. Mindfulness Practice has been shown to decrease • Anxiety • Somatization • Depression • Hostility (Flowers, n.d.). Emailed Author of website for DATE

  14. Mindfulness improves: More effective skills in managing stress Helps to improve self-esteem ADD More Positives

  15. CONCLUSION

  16. References • Aanen, S. (Photographer). (2007). Tyne cot cemetery. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/892543 • Baden, Zefa, Corbis. (2008).Depressed senior woman. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.health.com/health/condition- article/0,,20188647,00.html • Black Dog Institute. (2012, Oct.). Depression in older people. Retrieved from http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Depressioninolderpeople.pdf • Care from the Heart. (Photographer). (2007). Elderly man wheelchair . [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.carefromtheheartcapecod.com/ • Duckworth, K. (2009, October). Mental illness. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org • Fitzpatrick, M. J. (2006). Mental illness: Facts and numbers. National Alliance on Mental Health, Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Mental_Illness&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53155 • Flowers, S. (n.d.). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in medicine. Mindful Living Programs, Retrieved from http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/relatedresearch.php • Hover, L. (Photographer). (n.d.). Old man meditating. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://meditation-yoga-daily-news.com/beginners-guide-to-meditation-for-health/old-man-meditating-2/ • Kabat-Zinn, J. University of Massachusetts Medical School.(n.d.).[Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=43102 • Smart, S. (Photographer). (2011 ). Elderly hands on cup. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.pbase.com/image/80171604

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