Trauma rife among aged-care residents, says researcher
By Amy Sarcevic
Monday, 21 September, 2020
More than 70% of people within aged-care facilities have experienced a traumatic event in their lives and may need psychological intervention during COVID-19, says researcher Dr Monica Cations of聽.
The high rate of trauma among aged-care users聽in part reflects their聽greater accumulation of traumatic life experiences. However, the aged-care experience can be distressing in and of itself, particularly during the pandemic, Dr Cations said.聽For those already living with trauma from a prior life event, these environmental pressures can cause flare-ups of psychological distress.
鈥淟iving in an institutionalised environment, with limited freedom and autonomy, and the risk for聽neglect (due to resourcing issues) creates a perfect storm of uneasiness for someone already living with trauma,鈥� Dr Cations said.
鈥淏eing away from one鈥檚 home can聽be very difficult for trauma survivors. Many people cultivate their home as a safe place, which helps them manage their anxiety聽and avoid re-traumatisation. When that gets taken away and the individual is in a novel environment, where they don鈥檛 have as much control or predictability, mental health can be affected.鈥�
Throughout the pandemic, aged-care residents have been exposed to high levels of risk, given their close proximity, reliance on shared environments and the general vulnerability of their immune systems. In some facilities, the risk has been elevated with PPE shortages and the absorption of COVID-19 patient overspills from hospitals.
As a result, quarantine has either been mandated or encouraged in some aged-care homes, meaning that many patients are managing the stress of this risk in solitude.
Given the elevated risk of the aged-care environment, staffing issues have also been rife throughout Australia. With workers stretched beyond usual capacity, the psychosocial needs of residents have taken a back seat in many facilities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been a challenging situation for all involved and I sympathise with staff who would like to do more but don鈥檛 have the capacity to do so,鈥� Dr Cations said.
鈥淣ow more than ever,聽small聽things can聽make the world of difference to someone experiencing distress. For example, taking a few minutes to ask someone how they are coping, and getting educated on trauma and other common mental health conditions, so as to recognise early-warning signs.鈥�
Dr Cations would also like to see more done at the federal level to support the mental health of aged-care residents. She acknowledges developments like dedicated mental health funding in the 2018 Federal Budget and the establishment of a support line for older citizens. However, she says mental health resources are not as available as they should be in aged-care facilities.
鈥淎s a nation, we need to stop undervaluing the wellbeing of aged-care residents,鈥� she concluded.
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