Why Companion Walking is the New Remedy For Depression

It is a gray day outside.

Joe, who lives alone, moves through the motions of his daily morning routine of making coffee and reading the newspaper. He sits at the kitchen table and peers over the top of the newspaper to the luscious yet overgrown green backyard.

Joe notices the empty bird feeder that he stopped filling a few weeks before.

What once brought him comfort suddenly brought him unexplainable grief. Inside his mind, he thought “oh I should probably fill that…and tend to the garden again”, but his body simply did not want to partake in any effort.

He shrugs, takes a sip of his coffee, and goes back to scanning the paper. Joe simply thinks he is bored and tired, but he is actually very depressed.

Depression and the shadows of our mind

Depression and anxiety are the most common psychological disorders in older age.

Depression is recognized by symptoms of sadness, reduced level of interest or enjoyment, feelings of guilt and tiredness, reduced concentration level, and sleeping or appetite disorders.

It is a sneaky, lurking, invisible ghoul hiding in the shadows of our minds. The most dangerous of it all is that it is often unnoticed by the person experiencing it, who frequently passes it over as feeling bored, lonely, or sleepy.

The reality of depression is that it is an invisible disorder.

Oftentimes, individuals may categorize older adults who sleep a lot as just “tired” when in fact they are severely depressed.

When depression goes unrecognized, it can lead to detrimental effects, with some cases provoking suicidal ideation. Like Joe, his apathy towards the bird feeder and the unattended garden kept both empty and disheveled.

The subtle repercussions

One of the most notable symptoms of depression is the inability to engage and maintain relationships. There is no energy, desire, or excitement to socialize, spend time with others, or explore.

This lack of social engagement can be very damaging as social relationships are large contributing factors to mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk.

In a 2020 study, approximately 7.7 million U.S. community-dwelling older adults were found to be socially isolated. One in four older adults in the U.S. were currently experiencing an absence of social relationships and engagement pre COVID-19 pandemic, with numbers only skyrocketing since.

Additionally, older age has been associated with more sedentary time with adults spending up to 80% of their waking day not moving or being active.

This is a common experience among many individuals who are depressed because the reduced levels of interest or enjoyment overpower the desire to move and exercise.

The paradox is that the less we move, the more depressed we become.

Sadly, studies have concluded that individuals with the lowest level of involvement in social relationships and physical activity are more likely to die earlier than their actively engaged counterparts.

The saving grace

With depression, everything feels like a trek through mud. Fortunately, humans are social creatures and more published research is concluding that human connection is the saving grace for depression, isolation, and loneliness.

Research published in the Journals of Gerontology affirms that adults who are more socially connected and engaged are healthier and live longer than their more isolated peers.

Along with socialization, countless research has proven physical activity to be a prominent marker in happiness, health, and longevity.

In my experience as a Geriatric Kinesiologist and founder of Walk with Pop, I have witnessed many older adults affected by depression, lethargy, and apathy much like Joe.

However, the most rewarding activity I discovered most individuals were open to doing was walking with me!

Walking is a no-cost, non-medical activity that most can do even with rest breaks, and is the most commonly recognized and accepted aerobic activity among older adults. Walking with a companion can cultivate joy, connection, consistency, and empowerment. It creates safety, trust, and novelty while also improving the effects of depression.

Going farther, together

What I want you to take away is that having a companion to walk with bridges the gap between feeling bored, lonely, and alone while simultaneously getting outside and being active. It is a trifecta!

So, taking the time to walk together can be just the right medicine to help lengthen and improve our quality of life as we age.

About the Author:

Mercedes Fernandez is a geriatric kinesiologist and is the founder of Walk With Pop, a US-based company that provides convenient and safe support in helping older adults get outside for a walk with a new friend. She holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an extensive pre-medical background in psychology, anatomy, and nutrition. She is a certified senior fitness instructor and authorized CPR/First Aid responder under the American Red Cross. Along with her professional experience, Mercedes was also her grandfather's primary caregiver, enriching her personal experience of senior health care. Her deeply rooted passion to serve older adults began from an early age where she played piano at nursing homes at the age of 8. Today, Mercedes continues to have deep care and compassion for older adults and advocates for adequate senior health care.