Threats to dignified care for older people with mental illness: a qualitative analysis

Sociocultural dynamics pose a direct challenge to the dignity of older individuals, often culminating in the threat of undignified care. At the heart of this issue are several core influences: the effects of culturally rooted explanatory models of illness, the presence of insufficient family support, and the pervasive consequences of inhabiting a society marked by traumatic historical and cultural wounds. These components are critical determinants of the quality of dignified care received by older adults. Consequently, a focused combination of educational and sociocultural interventions is urgently needed to dismantle the cultural stigma and prejudice evident within this care context.