{"id":78398,"date":"2025-06-26T08:36:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T12:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamhealth.com\/?p=78398"},"modified":"2026-02-27T02:38:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T07:38:56","slug":"a-review-of-trauma-informed-care-understanding-ptsd-in-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamhealth.com\/featured-article\/a-review-of-trauma-informed-care-understanding-ptsd-in-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"A Review of Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding PTSD in the Elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n
Jessica Stone, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Regional Clinical Director, Post-Acute Care Behavioral Health<\/h6>\n
Sheleigh Highsmith, PMHNP-BC, Regional Clinical Director, Post-Acute Care Behavioral Health<\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]As we begin our focus on\u00a0Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month<\/a>, members of the Post-Acute Care Behavioral Health team discuss how the disorder affects older adults. Jessica Stone, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Regional Clinical Director, and Sheleigh Highsmith, PMHNP-BC, Regional Clinical Director, explain how to recognize symptoms in the elderly and address them. PTSD in older adults is often overlooked or misunderstood, yet it can significantly impact quality of life, especially when compounded by isolation, medical complexity, or cognitive decline. By raising awareness and sharing expert guidance, our team reinforces TeamHealth\u2019s mission to deliver exceptional care during life\u2019s pivotal moments\u2014supporting older adults with the compassion, clinical excellence, and dignity they deserve.<\/p>\n
Understanding PTSD<\/h5>\n

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Although it is often associated with combat veterans, PTSD can affect anyone who has endured severe stress, including the elderly. An estimated\u00a03.9% of the world population has had PTSD<\/a>\u00a0at some stage in their lives according to the World Health Organization. PTSD symptoms may increase with age due to multiple factors including role changes, functional losses and maladaptive behaviors to cope with loss.<\/p>\n

Barriers to Effective Assessment and Treatment<\/h5>\n

Older adults are less likely to report symptoms associated with trauma such as depression or anxiety, due to an inability to connect emotional syndromes manifesting as somatic complaints. There is also a perceived stigma among this population of \u201cseeming crazy\u201d making it particularly difficult for primary care providers to detect trauma symptoms of the elderly compared to younger counterparts. Consequently, this may result in inadequate treatment plans, provision of poorly focused or inappropriate treatment and poor patient outcomes.<\/p>\n

An Overview of Trauma-Informed Care<\/h5>\n

Patients in the long-term care setting face an elevated risk of trauma-related challenges, which are often significantly under recognized in this population. Implementing\u00a0trauma-informed care<\/a>\u00a0is crucial. This framework acknowledges trauma\u2019s impact on patients and guides healthcare providers in their interactions. It involves identifying trauma symptoms, implementing informed policies, practices, and procedures, and actively working to reduce the risk of re-traumatizing patients.<\/p>\n

Effective November 28, 2019, trauma-informed care became a focal point in the survey process for nursing and skilled nursing facilities as CMS completed the final stage of revised participation requirements for Medicaid and Medicare.\u00a0New trauma-informed care regulations<\/a>\u00a0include:<\/p>\n