Growing older: the lived experience of older persons with serious mental illness

The purpose of this qualitative paper is to describe, from the consumers' perspective, the complex factors involved as persons with serious mental illness grow older in the community. The results consisted of seven major themes subsumed under three categories. The first category, across the lifespan, included three themes: (a) older but wiser, (b) one day at a time, and (c) echoes from the past. The second category, factors impeding participation in the life of the community, also included three themes: (a) on the outside looking in, (b) walk a mile in my shoes, and (c) without a voice. The final category, factors which enhance participation in community life, included only one theme: meaningful activities and productive roles. Findings suggest that service providers must actively involve consumers as primary members of the rehabilitation team to deliver effective, individualized services which are designed around the particular future needs and resources of older persons with serious mental illness. Furthermore, stigma reduction through advocacy and education at the community level must be strengthened.