Understanding the Stigma Around Mental Health in Aging Adults
Despite around one-third of adults in the U.S. reporting feelings of loneliness, according to the CDC, opportunities to seek help are often either limited or difficult to access. Many Plano seniors, for example, still downplay any anxiety they may feel due to stigma around mental health and a fear of judgment. What is the most effective way to encourage empathy and ensure that people receive the support they truly need?
Below, we highlight several ways that Conservatory at Plano helps normalize mental wellness in senior living, as well as the methods we use to provide seniors with the support they need. Discover how our lifestyle programs foster an open and social community, ensuring that people can talk openly and honestly without fear of stigma about the struggles they are experiencing.
Why Myths About Aging Can Prevent Wellness Discussion
Deep-seated ageism and mental health prejudice in many societies frame sadness as "just a part of getting older". For those who are experiencing it, it can discourage seeking help as people feel like they aren't experiencing anything that others can assist with. The feeling is normalized as something that is left undiscussed, and that those who are older should simply "get on with it".
Such a problem can potentially lead to hesitancy in sharing feelings, even with a trusted peer, out of fear of being ridiculed. However, left untreated, late-life depression can cause dozens of issues, including:
- Increased stress levels
- Heightened risk of accidents or falls
- Greater risk of chronic disease
- Internalized shame and spiraling further
We are also aware that childhood messages can last a long time, being reinforced throughout someone's lifetime. Those experiencing emotional struggles may equate these with personal failure, or even "sin". People then feel ashamed, unwilling to share their issues even with family for fear of appearing like a burden by admitting vulnerability.
This attitude is prevalent in those who have experienced a lifetime of needing to appear "tough", regardless of whether they truly are. It is for reasons like these that veterans have numerous support networks to help them overcome many of the difficulties they face upon returning from a conflict. Senior mental care education also becomes a key part of any senior community wanting to help its residents.
The Real Effects of Stigma Around Mental Health
Those suffering, especially those who internalize their stigma and think negatively about themselves, can often feel as though they do not deserve help. Even if therapy sessions are booked for them, they may feel guilty or ashamed of them, leading to the senior skipping help and experiencing longer depressive episodes. These troubling events can lower one's quality of life, leading to issues like:
- Chronic stress and elevated blood pressure
- Visible signs of aging
- Weaker immune defences from an unhealthy life
- Increased risks of dementia
- Lowered motivation for exercise or enjoying nutritious meals
As a part of our mental health awareness drive, we ensure that every person who joins Conservatory at Plano is paired with an "ambassador". This individual is one we trust to be a friendly face and help alleviate the social jitters that often occur during the first week in our community.
The support these ambassadors provide includes an open and honest face that people can turn to when they need help. They can act as a positive and trusted individual who can serve as an intermediary, allowing people to seek help without feeling judged or embarrassed. The ambassador may even share their difficulties and private worries, continuing a chain of support and normalization of positive discussions about finding ways to overcome one's issues.
As these ambassadors are a figurehead for "the right thing to do", seeking support is given an air of strength, so people do not think of stoic suffering as always the best solution.
How Conservatory at Plano Helps Its Residents
We aim to ensure that people have access to resources that can help, even without always needing to seek specific emotional support for seniors. We understand the wide range of activities that can integrate and exercise both the mind and body well into one's senior years, ensuring that people can express themselves in a way that offers both social opportunities and outlets for emotions.
For example:
- Cooking demonstrations
- Creative crafting afternoons
- Holiday celebrations
- Informative presentations
- Short walks
- Chair yoga and other exercises
- Puzzle evenings
These take many different forms and styles throughout a resident's stay to ensure they remain exciting and unique. Whether they promote thinking or cardio, each one can help a senior's body and mind while building a trusted social network.
The purposeful and structured agendas on these days help to combat boredom, while helping people master new hobbies can encourage pride in oneself and one's creativity long after someone has lost the capability to engage in their career. These events also promote lifelong learning and provide new topics of conversation both between seniors and with our staff, who are happy to engage with them.
Creative Arts and Confident Emotional Expression
Whether a person is a potter or a scribe, artistic expression is a key component of what we offer at Conservatory at Plano. We then encourage residents to showcase what they have created, giving special attention to a senior and allowing them to discuss the reasons behind their creation.
Those who are creative in this way can then discuss the emotional reasons behind their creations more openly, thereby growing their emotional vocabulary for addressing their issues. Meanwhile, the increased self-worth from every creative success creates a firmer bulwark against the difficulties of depression or mental health problems due to stigma and aging.
Embrace Open Conversation at Conservatory at Plano
The stigma around mental health can recede fastest when people have more opportunities to be honest and share their emotional journey among friends and peers. For this reason, we provide every chance for people to build a social network and encourage one another during daily routines.
To learn more about what we offer and experience the culture we foster in our community, book a personal tour today. Discover how we can support you or your loved ones for years to come, with opportunities for friendship and a new sense of purpose.