Browsing by Author "Archer-Kuhn, Beth Elizabeth"

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    Social Workers’ Perspectives on the Connection Between Later Life Trauma and Older Adults’ Mental Health and Overall Well-being
    (2024-09-13) Shrestha, Laxman Prasad; Lee, Yeonjung; Gulbrandsen, Carolyne (Cari); Archer-Kuhn, Beth Elizabeth; Shankar, Janki; Kwan, Crystal
    This research explores gerontological social workers’ perspectives and experiences responding to later-life trauma (LLT) and its impacts on older adults’ mental health and overall well-being, as well as their experiences with support, services, and resources available to older adults in their communities. A critical ethnography approach was utilized to investigate the experiences of social workers, recruited from agencies in Calgary, who have two or more years of working experience with older adults with histories of traumas. The findings of this qualitative study demonstrate that LLT significantly impacts older adults’ mental health and overall well-being. Capitalism-oriented societies and policymakers continue to marginalize this critical social issue. The study's results recognize the prevalence of ageism, discrimination, stereotypes, prejudices, and negative social assumptions and attitudes and describe how they exacerbate LLT. This study elaborates on specific factors contributing to intersecting multilayered barriers, such as social/self-stigma (shame, guilt, fear, and negative beliefs), systemic barriers, and limited programs, services, and resources for older adults. Although the number of older adults is growing locally and globally at the fastest rate in history, limited attention has been devoted to older adults and their issues related to LLT, compared to their younger counterparts. Older adults’ trauma is assumed to be normal and natural, even though the impacts of trauma are unique to each person. The results of this research reinforce how ageism and capitalistic social norms play pivotal roles in the stereotypes of and discrimination against older adults and their issues related to LLT. This study provided essential policy and practice recommendations to support older adults with LLT to ensure trauma-informed and age-friendly programs, services, and resources. The implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed and presented.