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State of Joy survey results released

 

Comfort Keepers® of Tryon/Columbus, announced that it will celebrate its second annual National Day of Joy on June 24, 2020.

The National Day of Joy, which takes place on the last Wednesday in June, was established by in 2019 to help inspire and encourage people to experience joy and share it with others; an action that has become more meaningful in the current Covid-19 environment.

As part of the National Day of Joy, Comfort Keepers conducts a survey that polls Americans on their perspectives about joy. This includes specific activities that bring them happiness, evolving attitudes about joy in light of current events, as well as, overall opinions about the state of joy in the world.

“We’ve all been impacted by events in our country and around the globe,” said Erin Couchell, owner of Comfort Keepers. “The results from the National State of Joy survey make clear, that even in difficult times, we are all looking for ways to experience joy. We understand this, which is why we focus on doing activities with our clients that bring them happiness, from listening to music to baking cookies to reliving family stories.”

The survey was conducted from May 5th-11th and polled 2,000 Americans; 1,000 of those surveyed were 30+ years of age with at least one living parent, and the other 1,000 were people aged 65+.

On an average day, 75% of people said they are joyful, while 6% said they are not. Other activities that bring the most joy include Spending time outside (64%), Family dinner (64%), Listening to music (62%), Watching a favorite movie/TV show (62%) and simply Receiving a hug (61%).

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Americans were already on the quest to improve mental health through finding joy, peace and balance in their busy lives. Simple, sometimes mundane activities have become increasingly more meaningful in today’s setting, as more people are spending a greater amount of time at home, away from the office and the grind of their everyday lives.

And while these ‘simple pleasures’ are bringing many people joy, the majority are participating in these activities alone. This national survey found that more than half (57%) of all people aged 65+ have missed hugs from a loved one since being in quarantine. This has also been difficult for the “sandwich generation” – a group of people who are tasked with caring for their aging parents as well as their own younger children. This has made caregiving services even more critical during this time. On the National Day of Joy — and every day after that – the sandwich generation is comforted by the fact that even if they cannot visit or spend time with their loved ones.

Since the onset of Covid-19, activities people enjoy now that they did not have time to do before include Spending time with family (33%), Reading (32%) and Taking walks (28%).

“At Comfort Keepers, we believe that no matter someone’s age, experiencing daily moments of joy is critical for maintaining physical health, mental health, and overall well-being,” said Erin. “Our senior loved ones, many who have been disproportionally affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, want the same opportunities for joy and happiness that we all do. We are proud to help seniors live the best quality of life today and every day.“

For more information about The National Day of Joy, visit ComfortKeepers.com.

 

Submitted by Mollie SImmons