Stress and older people

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 in order to increase public awareness of the stress epidemic. Community nurses will recognise that many older people they care for experience stress, which adversely impacts on their health and wellbeing. This editorial will explore some of the causes of stress in older people. It will then outline resources that are available to support the older person in effectively managing stress and explore the potential of mindfulness practices in alleviating symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression.

Stress can be defined as a feeling of being under abnormal pressure—whether from an increased workload, an argument with a family member or financial worries (Mental Health Foundation, 2016).

Stress is universal, and experiencing it in small amounts, for short periods, can help an individual build resilience and motivation. However, excessive amounts of stress affects physical and mental wellbeing. Persistent exposure to physiological, psychological or environmental stressors lead to chronic inflammatory changes, which adversely impact on the person’s physical and mental health (McManus et al, 2022).