5 Reasons Why Living Near the Beach Is Good for Seniors

The coast has always been something that I have been able to enjoy since I was a child. My memories of the sea, ocean and the coast have all been positive. From going on picnics with my family at McNears Beach in San Rafael, to skateboarding downhill on Santiago Street in San Francisco only to stop at the waters of the Pacific Ocean on Ocean Beach, to cruising Highway 1 soaking up the sun in my car with the top down or on my motorcycle. To me there is a certain disconnect from ALL my daily stresses. In fact, this is a time when doing less is actually doing more for me. It gets me back to paying more attention to myself. An example of a de-stressing activity I do is when I cruise on my motorcycle and just ride even with no destination plotted and only coming home when I feel like it. I took my blood pressure once, before and after a ride and the drop on my vital sign was significant. Research has found that spending time by the ocean is good for your well-being. Data published in the journal, Health Place, states that those who live by the coast report better physical and mental health than those who don’t. The Journal of Coastal Magazine published a study which found those who live by the coast report better physical and mental health than those who don’t. This could be the reason why Annual Gallup Poll shows Hawaii earning the ranking of the happiest state in the U. S. six times since 2008. I love the coast for so many reasons, but here I will list the 5 that I have experienced that can benefit seniors in no particular order.

First,the coast can be a natural tech detox and it will help you to unplug from technology. However, you need to stay in the zone while you are at the beach, you need to say goodbye to Facebook, Instagram, social media, and your phone...for now. Close your eyes and exercise mindfulness; listen to the ocean waves rolling in and out. Feel the full experience by not allowing your phone or technology distract you at this time. From my experience here along the coast, this is not hard to do as cellular service is spotty at best, so this forces you to appreciate the moment even more. Believe me, being on the coast will help you to reduce your addiction to technology. No,you are not going to just quit cold turkey from your gadgets, but you won’t be using your technology the way you are now. Instead, you will spend more time outside instead of your screen. And when you aren’t staring hours and hours at a screen, then you will change the way you think and your perspectives of life. When you visit with a loved one in our community, you will give your full attention to them and that time spent becomes quality without all the distractions.

Second, you can soak up the vitamin D. By doing this you may have more of the sunshine vitamin that can ward off some of the most dangerous modern-day diseases. Vitamin D deficiency can cause horrible health problems such as, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anemia, brain damage, depression, infertility, and cancer. According to a study conducted on 7,000 participants, people living in dull and gloomy climates generally face more vitamin D deficiency than those who live close to the coast. Now, doesn’t this make you want to have this prescription of “Vitamin Sea” for you dose of vitamin D?Families come by not just to visit at the community, but to make a day on the coast. They spend quality time for walks, take a cruise in their automobile along the coastal highway and even enjoy many of the fine restaurants that many residents have come to enjoy from outings.

Third, the beach is social. Partially we’ve been conditioned to link the feeling of the beach with relaxation. In movies, print, advertisements and the media, we have been conditioned to think that the beach is a place for fun and relaxation. Why is it that we always want the room with the view of the ocean? It’s because we associate the beach to be a positive feeling to our senses. Besides, who doesn’t want a view of the ocean. To prove my point, I get so many people driving along Highway 1 who drive below the speed limit just so they can enjoy the view a little longer. Sometimes I forget that there are many people from different states who do not experience the coast as I do on a daily basis.

Fourth, is the fresh air. Have you ever wondered why we always sleep more soundly after a day out on the beach? That’s because of the sea air. The sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen and can have mood enhancing properties. These negative ions also balance levels of serotonin, which is a body chemical that is linked with mood and stress. Therefore,the smell of the ocean breeze contributes to a persons soothed state, which may have something to do with the negative ions one is breathing in. These oxygen atoms have an extra electron and have been found to occur in places like waterfalls, and the ocean. A study published in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine suggests that negative ion therapy could be used to treat symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Another research concluded that negative air ionization associated with the sea breeze resulted in lower depression scores. As many of us know, sun-downing is a behavior among people with dementia. Residents are very uneasy during these times, and I have found that taking a walk on our property or around the block helps to calm them down. By the time we return back to the community, they feel more relaxed.

The fifth reason on this list is all about your senses. Research has shown that the sound of waves alters wave patterns in the brain soothing you into a deeply relaxed state. Relaxing in this way can help rejuvenate the mind and body. Studies show the color blue is associated with feelings of calm and peace. The ebb and flow of water you hear de-stimulates your brain. Our sense of sight is treated to natures beauty, from the birds making their formation for their long journey, sea gulls hovering over water ready to catch fish flying from the waters blown by whales. The sounds, coupled with the visuals, activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowing us down and helping us relax. Staring at the ocean changes our brain waves and puts us into a mild meditative state. This is mental peace and healing of the mind. But my most favorite sense is the taste. In my travels up and down Highway 1, I have experienced many of the best and freshest foods that only a coastal community can offer. From vegetables from local farms, meats from the ranches, and all that the ocean has to offer. Here fresh really means fresh for that day.

These benefits can be experienced even if you are not taking up residence beach side on a Hawaiian island. You don’t necessarily need to live by the water to reap the benefits. It is all about practicing mindfulness and taking advantage of the time you spend along the coast. Stress relief is one of the benefits of practicing mindfulness. A study published in the journal Psychiatry Research found that the area of the brain responsible for stress shrunk in size. Which means that we become more resilient to handling stress. On the other side, the parts of the brain responsible for memory, reasoning and empathy grew. But if you are a thalassophile, then the sight of the sea alone will be enough to make you feel good. But you don’t have to take my word for it, or the explanations from science, articles, studies or surveys. Just give me a call and I’ll tell you how you can have a wonderful experience along the coast. Contact me at Pacific Oaks, our unique coastal property that sits in a residential setting surrounded by the sights and smells of the Pacific coast. For any questions visit our website at: https://pacificoaksmc.com/ or contact me by email: christopher@pacificoaksmc.com or phone: (650 563-4100