Senior Vitality Group: Connecting, enjoying, discovering
11/14/2024 by Chad Ellis, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W.; Kileen Smyth, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W.
Aging can take a toll on the body, mind and spirit. Health issues, loss of loved ones, isolation and unexpected challenges can lead people away from their values and into depression and anxiety. However, the Senior Vitality Group is an opportunity to shift your focus back toward living from a place of heart and meaning through eight one-hour sessions. The series seeks to address these issues and enhance connection and aliveness that lasts beyond the series.
The Senior Vitality Group is designed especially for those 60 and older who receive their healthcare through Primary Care in Rochester and Kasson. The content of the one-hour sessions is based on proven cognitive behavioral therapy techniques ranging from scheduled worry and flexible thinking to mindfulness and Tai Chi movements. You need a referral from your primary care clinician to attend.
Sessions are planned throughout the rest of 2024 and into 2025.
The Senior Vitality Group meets on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m., and topics include:
Week 1: Quality of Life: Aging 101, holistic living, vitality, and legacy concept.
Week 2: Exploring Social Support Systems and Education.
Week 3: Exploring Elder Fraud, Scams, and Advanced Directives.
Week 4: Eco Map, Cognitive Health and Dementia.
Week 5: Caregiver Coping and Mental Health.
Week 6: Physical Health.
Week 7: Emotional Wellness.
Week 8: Spirituality and Resilience: Faith, generativity, finding meaning transcendence.
Through these sessions, seniors experience an increased connection with themselves and others. They reflect on a reduction in fear and an openness to adventure, appreciate being more informed, and often feel energized to take charge of life rather than deny the challenges of aging. Sessions also offer seniors someone besides their adult children to discuss unique issues. As a result, some have joined 125 Live to explore senior activities further. Others have participated in various other growth opportunities in the community through Rochester Community and Technical College and Elder Network for ongoing social support.
If you're interested, you can contact your primary care team.
Chad Ellis, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W., is a clinical social worker/therapist in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH). He has worked in psychiatry and behavioral health at Mayo Clinic for eight years, doing individual and group therapy. He is based at Mayo Family Clinic Northeast.
Kileen Smyth, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W., is a clinical social worker/therapist in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH). She has worked in psychiatry and behavioral health at Mayo Clinic for 27 years, doing individual and group therapy. She is based at Mayo Family Clinic Northwest.
They enjoy facilitating the senior vitality group as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group for anxiety and depression.