While seniors with chronic health conditions, delays in receiving proper care can be both physically and mentally taxing. The inability to access timely medical care can heighten feelings of frustration, and even despair. Mental health services for seniors are generally insufficient, despite increasing awareness of the importance of mental health care in recent years.
Seniors often face barriers to accessing services tailored to their needs. Long wait times, a shortage of geriatric mental health professionals, and the stigma surrounding mental health in older adults can all hinder the timely provision of necessary care. Without community support, validation of lived experiences, unresolved pain, and other concerns that weigh heavy on the heart, some seniors become isolated, posing another risk factor for overall health.
Recognizing that social isolation is a major contributor to poor health, Unison fosters connections by organizing community programs and events. From virtual gatherings to local meetups, these initiatives allow seniors to engage with one another, combat loneliness, and build a supportive network of peers. Unison addresses many of the key issues exacerbating mental health struggles among seniors. The changing environment necessitates that we adapt and transform our services to provide relevant support in this changed environment. Financial and mental health, though on different ends of the care spectrum, have big impacts on our wellbeing.
Unison works to combat financial insecurity by advocating for increased support for pension programs. We also offer financial literacy programs to help seniors manage their budgets during tough economic times. In addition to financial support, Unison recognizes the importance of addressing the mental health crisis. We offer a variety of mental health services tailored specifically to older adults, including counseling, support groups, and help accessing mental health care. Unison also advocates for improved access to senior-friendly mental health services and campaigns to reduce the stigma around mental health issues within this demographic. The mental health impact of Canada’s current political and economic conditions on seniors is a growing concern.
By working together to improve financial security, mental health access, and social connectivity, we can ensure that its senior population not only survives but thrives in an increasingly uncertain world. The changes we have all experienced over the last five years has prompted us to adapt services, offer new programs and supports to remain relevant and helpful to our members and our users. This has required our organization to learn and adapt. Any organization that needs to learn gets a few things wrong along the way. If you notice ways our team could be more responsive or effective in helping older adults navigate the current environment, drop me an email at larrym@unisonalberta.com