Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons

The global increase in the older population has led to a rise in mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of aging cohorts. This demographic shift increases the risk of human rights violations driven by ageism, mentalism, and abl...

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Main Authors: Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima, Kiran Rabheru
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2025-04-01
Series:Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/128595172/Dignity_and_human_rights_based_care_and_support_for_older_persons
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author Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima
Kiran Rabheru
author_facet Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima
Kiran Rabheru
author_sort Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima
collection DOAJ
description The global increase in the older population has led to a rise in mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of aging cohorts. This demographic shift increases the risk of human rights violations driven by ageism, mentalism, and ableism. However, older persons often face unique challenges in exercising their rights due to variations in autonomy, cognitive function, and care needs. A human rights-based approach to mental health care must explicitly address these nuances. This paper examines how dignity—a fundamental human right—can be meaningfully operationalized in care models. We propose a structured, evidence-based approach to care that is grounded in dignity, human rights, and the principles of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. This framework also emphasizes trauma-sensitive care, recognizing the vulnerabilities of older persons in institutional settings.
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spelling doaj-art-e7eb221e90dd43179b1cff2754c41ea72025-08-20T03:11:50ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962025-04-012210.20935/MHealthWellB7644Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older personsCarlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima0Kiran Rabheru1World Psychiatry Association Section of Old Age Psychiatry, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland.Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. The global increase in the older population has led to a rise in mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of aging cohorts. This demographic shift increases the risk of human rights violations driven by ageism, mentalism, and ableism. However, older persons often face unique challenges in exercising their rights due to variations in autonomy, cognitive function, and care needs. A human rights-based approach to mental health care must explicitly address these nuances. This paper examines how dignity—a fundamental human right—can be meaningfully operationalized in care models. We propose a structured, evidence-based approach to care that is grounded in dignity, human rights, and the principles of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. This framework also emphasizes trauma-sensitive care, recognizing the vulnerabilities of older persons in institutional settings.https://www.academia.edu/128595172/Dignity_and_human_rights_based_care_and_support_for_older_persons
spellingShingle Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima
Kiran Rabheru
Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
title Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
title_full Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
title_fullStr Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
title_full_unstemmed Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
title_short Dignity and human rights-based care and support for older persons
title_sort dignity and human rights based care and support for older persons
url https://www.academia.edu/128595172/Dignity_and_human_rights_based_care_and_support_for_older_persons
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