February 10, 2022 | Aging Life Care, Mental Health
Illness, physical limitations, mental health issues – aging services professionals work with clients who are living with a range of challenges. Sadly, for some clients, those conditions are made worse – and in some cases, caused – by race-related stress:
“Race-related stress occurs when an individual experiences or witnesses racist incidents that evoke social and historical experiences of racism. For African American older adults, these encounters are accumulated over the lifespan, stored in memory, and relived with each new racist and discriminatory experience.”
– American Psychological Association
And, as an article from the Population Reference Bureau explains, “A growing body of research suggests that experiencing racism damages a person’s health by triggering the release of stress hormones and a chain of biological events that cause premature aging, thereby increasing the risk of chronic disease.”
The author adds that Black adults can experience chronic inflammation caused by the stress of living with racial discrimination. And, it says, “Chronic inflammation can cause premature aging and organ damage, raising the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.”
Race-related stress is an ongoing healthcare crisis. Research has found health effects of racism among Latino and Asian-American adults as well. As caregivers, we all know that physical and mental health problems often have multiple causes. With some clients we need to also factor in the effects of systemic racism.
It’s important for providers to:
- Educate themselves so they can provide informed, respectful care.
- Advocate for clients who may have difficulty accessing services due to systemic racism.
- Help clients find health and mental healthcare providers who are affirming and aware of social determinants of health and the particular needs of Black older adults.
At Windward, we’re committed to the ongoing training of our staff to provide culturally sensitive care. We work to understand the unique needs of each client, including the many factors making them who they are, including lived experience, religious and spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, and cultural background. Our Aging Life Care Managers assess each client’s personal circumstances to develop a customized plan of care. Thank you for entrusting us with your care.