This month is Family Day, a day dedicated to spending quality time with loved ones making memories and bonding over shared experiences. Family Day is observed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick on the third Monday of February.
We wish to mark the occasion by celebrating the core value of Family Day –intentionally spending meaningful time with our family for of the benefits this brings to everyone of all ages across the generations.
Whether you live alone or with family members, intentionally reaching out and spending time with your family can bring numerous benefits for Canadians.
- Improved Mental Health
Frequent contact with family members can help to improve your mental wellbeing by reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation, which can be linked to depression and cognitive decline.
Strong emotional ties with family can help to improve your emotional wellbeing by lowering stress levels.
Seeing family members regularly fosters a sense of emotional security, which is especially important during difficult times. Having a support system can reduce anxiety and stress in seniors because a strong sense of connection fosters a greater sense of belonging and purpose.
- Better Physical Health
Seniors who maintain close family ties are likely get out the house more frequently and are more likely to engage in healthy behaviours, such as regular exercise and proper nutrition. A healthy walk in fresh air followed by a shared home-cooked meal, for example.
The interaction, encouragement and support from loved ones can be a real boost to your motivation.
Social support plays a key role in maintaining a sense of purpose, which motivates you to live a healthier lifestyle.
- Cognitive Benefits
Human beings are social creatures.
Social interactions help to keep the brain active, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Conversations and interactions with family and engaging in interesting and dynamic discussions helps to stimulate your memory and problem-solving skills, boosting your overall cognitive function.
- Increased Longevity
According to Statistics Canada, a study titled “Social Isolation and Mortality among Canadian Seniors” identified that seniors with strong social networks officially live longer than those who are socially isolated.
Being around loved ones provides emotional support, reducing stress and anxiety. Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which can contribute to inflammation, heart disease, and weakened immune function. A strong support system helps counteract these effects, promoting overall well-being.
For Canadians aged 65 and older, regular social interactions have been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a stronger immune system helping you to live a longer and healthier life.
- Assistance with Daily Life & Healthcare
Having routine interactions with family members can help to manage day to day activities as family who see your frequently can more easily identify when and how you need help.
Family members can help retirees manage medical appointments, medications, and daily tasks.
Close family members can often identify and even pre-empt a need and help project manage key home upgrades such as the installation of a home elevator to support a reduction in mobility, or the addition of waist level appliances to help with daily housekeeping tasks.