Imagery Technique for Seniors

All of us face several stressful situations throughout our lives which may be attributed to minor annoyances or serious concerns. Irrespective of the cause, stress impacts the body and floods it with hormones thereby affecting our health. Seniors are no exception to this. With the growing aging population and increased lifespan worldwide, there is a strong need for focusing on the well-being of elders and taking suitable measures to maintain their health by reducing stress.



In fact, various forms of senior care including elderly senior living home services focus on the importance of healthy aging by adopting various stress management methods. This benefits the older generation to lead a better quality of life by

• Enhancing  functioning abilities to do their daily activities and taking their own decisions independently
• Empowering  them with the ability to manage their own needs and lifestyle  choices
• Building energy and boosting confidence levels
• Improving sleep quality and decreasing fatigue
• Lessening the probability of developing age-related diseases by lowering the blood pressure, sugar levels and pulse rates and improving blood circulation
• Reducing symptoms of chronic pain and muscular tension

Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which stress management can be achieved in elderly people. Imagery is one such senior stress relieving technique which is easy and simple to implement. It significantly helps in relieving anxiety by activating the body’s natural response to relaxation. Here the concept of mental imagery is used to create a detailed image of an attractive, calm or peaceful environment. Let us dwell deeper into the details of this promising practice.

Basics of Imagery Technique:

Imagery Technique can be perceived as a form of guided meditation. Like other calming procedures, this technique involves an element of distraction which is used as a means of detaching the mind from the stress source and directing it towards an alternative focal point. It may be guided by a professional, audio recording or a written script which takes you through the process.

Guided Imagery Technique relies on using all of the body senses collectively for de-stressing. For achieving this, imagination is deployed. By connecting the body and mind, there is an opportunity of experiencing something merely by imagining it. That helps you to relax by placing yourself in a calm and peaceful setting which is completely devoid of mental pressure.

Steps for implementing Imagery Technique:

• Find a calm and serene place to sit down. After closing your eyes, take deep breaths slowly to calm down.
• Choose a setting that gives you inner peace and attaches a special meaning in your life like a beach spot, waterfall or a family picnic. This is done with the goal of involving and encapsulating yourself into the scene completely. It is important to note that the effectiveness of this imagery relies on using all the five senses simultaneously.
• Continue to stay in this relaxed state as long as time permits or your comfort levels are not hampered. Negative thoughts and emotions should not be allowed to make intrusions to the mind during this period.
• When you are ready to leave, sit quietly for some time and regain your composure back to the present world. Doing this helps to accept and control the current situation and equips you to better face the challenges ahead.

Benefits of Imagery Technique:

• Helps in quickly regaining a sense of physical relaxation
• Directs the body and unconscious mind levels to a tranquil state and facilitates a real-time experience through non-verbal commands
• Acts as an associative process to recall memories and sensations from previous relaxation practices
• Cultivates relaxed methodologies for detachment and aids in meditative learning

Thus Imagery Technique for seniors is an easy to implement and portable concept for stress management with unlimited possibilities and nil resources-all it requires is imagination and concentration!