So many of my friends and colleagues in the New River Valley area made New Year’s resolutions this year. However, most abandoned them by the end of January. That is why I am not a big fan of resolutions, but I am a fan of bucket lists. Bucket lists motivate us to work towards our dreams – both big and small. What many may not realize is that bucket lists have tremendous health benefits – especially for seniors.
According to numerous studies from the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, and others, bucket lists encourage healthier physical and mental behaviors. That is why it is so important to help the seniors in your life create and accomplish those things on their list.
As someone who has worked with seniors and their family members for many years, I get to see firsthand how bucket lists create lifelong memories between loved ones and encourage healthier behaviors. The first step is asking the question. I always recommend beginning the conversation in the context of a happy memory. For example, if a loved one enjoyed gardening when they were younger, you can ask them what they were most proud of in their garden. You can then steer the conversation to discussing something they wish they had been able to accomplish with their garden…