Preventing Mental Health Crisis in Those Facing the Challenges of Dementia

This week I was really engaged by a presentation provided by Jennifer Olsen CEO of Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers , Jason Resendez of the National Alliance for Caregiving , and others about mental health support for family care partners. Jennifer spoke about the stress care partners feel as they perform “invisible overtime” and experience stress from feeling like they’re living a “double life” of providing care while also managing the other facets of their life. There were also some stunning statistics that were shared:

1 in 5 people over the age of 65 are experiencing mental health challenges

72% of family care partners expressed burnout and emotional health challenges

80% of Millennials and Generation Z expressed higher rates of burnout

As I think about the times I spoke with Baby Boomers in mental health crisis during the pandemic, it was often assisting them process their thoughts and emotions related to not wanting to feel like a burden to their family and getting to a place of acceptance with mortality or various limiting health challenges.

When I spoke with care partners from multiple generations in mental health crisis during the pandemic, it was often assisting them process their thoughts and emotions around lack of self-care, lack of self-compassion, and spiraling as their care receiver decompensated or worsened in their mental or physical health believing they were not doing enough or being enough to help them.

In speaking with Millennials and Generation Z who were in mental health crisis during the pandemic, it was alarming at the lack of investment by our systems and their families in resilience awareness, how to utilize healthy coping skills, and an absence of emotionally-intelligent work, educational, and relationship interactions. Due to this they became overwhelmed and were perceived by the Baby Boomers who observed them as unable to manage their own lives, let alone the Boomer when age-related or pathology-related decline would require it. This only compounded the Baby Boomer’s overwhelm and sense of being a burden.

These experiences are why it’s so fulfilling to invest in establishing realistic multi-generational expectations for caregiving throughout life, regardless of what generation the person I’m speaking with inhabits. By creating realistic expectations in every generation, it transforms any stress into empowered connection. Older adults don’t have to go through the process of asking because younger generations “step up” and are planning before the need even exists. Older adults don’t have to potentially humiliate themselves by asking for help when everything inside of them is telling them not to ask or to be shamed for asking when they do. By all involved taking responsibility for realistic needs associated with mortality and aging, the entire process of living becomes less difficult, traumatic, and overwhelming. It becomes more of a celebration that inspires gratitude and allows for thoughtful reflection on the tremendous gift that is living and being aware of it.

#aging #ageing #aginginplace #mentalhealth #crisis #overwhelm #carepartners #caregiving #carers #dementia #alzheimers #trauma #connection #communication #intergenerational #babyboomers #boomers #millennials #GenZ #celebration #burden #empowerment #caregiver #innovation #solutions #emotionalintelligence