81-year-old Carol Worthman called Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky’s mental health services a lifeline for elderly people. The service has provided her with friendship and camaraderie, something she was missing out on previously.
“To me, it’s a lifeline for elderly people,” she said. “It really is a lifeline.”
As seniors in Northern Kentucky face the challenges of aging, the toll on their mental health is becoming increasingly evident, with loneliness, isolation and chronic health conditions contributing to a growing need for specialized care and support.
The National Council of Aging, a nonprofit that advocates for older Americans, found that up to 25% of adults are living with a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. In addition, less than half of older Americans living with mental health or substance abuse conditions seek help.
In Kentucky specifically, 19.3% of adults age 65 and older have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, including major and minor depression or dysthymia, according to America’s Health Rankings by the UnitedHealth Foundation. This places Kentucky 47th out of 50 states.
One of the primary causes of poor mental health among seniors is aging alone, also referred to as solo aging. This can lead to adverse effects like anxiety, depression and cognitive decline.
“I don’t have a lot of family left, so you’re more or less sitting there twiddling your thumbs, and you’re at anybody’s mercy to go somewhere, to do something,” Worthman said.
Loneliness and isolation can degrade not only mental health, but also physical health. A study published by the University of Utah School of Medicine found that untreated mental health conditions in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, increased disability, increased mortality and slow healing from physical illness.
To combat these trends, local organizations like Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky are providing seniors with mental health care through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE – a Medicare and Medicaid program engineered to help elderly individuals receive comprehensive medical and social services.
Robert McFalls, executive director of Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky, said that the fraying of familial and social life as people age can lead to adverse mental health outcomes.
“As we age, we become more isolated from other individuals, and so, if you live alone or have limited engagement, like with your family members, then that can be really a challenge for an individual who is growing older,” McFalls said. “Sometimes during the aging process, people lose their friends and some of their social network that they have had in place for a while.”
Holistic view of health
Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky operates in nine counties, including Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Owen, Grant and Pendleton. To qualify for the program, individuals must be age 55 and older. The average PACE program participant is 77 years old.
“It’s such a change from my everyday life,” Worthman said. “I get out and enjoy people. I have my therapy, which is very enjoyable. We have lunch together, then we have our recreation. You have everything you need, plus they bring you back and forth.”
McFalls said Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky focuses on a holistic approach, offering participants a diverse range of programs and activities to help promote physical health, foster social connection and support emotional well-being. These include activities such as art workshops and group physical therapy classes.
“I like to look at it in a holistic way in terms of health,” McFalls said. “I think you need to look at your physical health, your mental health, your emotional health, your spiritual health. I think all components are really, really important and essential to health and well-being.”
Jen Campbell, Senior CommUnity Care’s outreach coordinator, said one of the most common barriers to seniors seeking mental health care is a lack of transportation. This can be especially prevalent if a person has physical disabilities or lives in a rural area without access to public transportation. To alleviate this concern, PACE provides transportation to all participants.
Another challenge to senior mental health care is a lack of information and community stigma, said Campbell. To break through, she suggests that organizations work to build trust among program participants by being consistent.
“There are different cultures, and sometimes they don’t trust different people,” she said. “Being a consistent face, outreaching to the organizations that are helping with resources. We do on-site and conduct an assessment so they see a face from our program at the beginning.”
Besides Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky, other regional organizations like NorthKey support mental health services for seniors. NorthKey’s services include individual and group counseling sessions to help people address grief and loss or cope with chronic illness. NorthKey partners with local medical institutions like St. Elizabeth to broaden the scope of its programs. Similar to Senior CommUnity Care, NorthKey focuses on a holistic approach.
From McFalls’ perspective, the growing awareness of the mental health of seniors is a net positive. His organization’s mission is to help people age in place, surrounded by a strong support system.
“That the best place for individuals to be is where they can be psychologically happy and mentally well, and, for the vast majority, that’s being able to be able to remain at home, remain safely with the right support system in place,” he said.
