At 65, Suzy Harmon found healing, purpose, and a saxophone through the Optimal Aging Program at Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
When Suzy Harmon was 19, she walked into a music store.
鈥淚 thought it would be really fun to play the saxophone, but when I went to the store, the guy said 鈥榞irls don鈥檛 play saxophone,鈥欌 Harmon says. 鈥淎nd I just kind of thought 鈥榳ell, okay,鈥 and I didn鈥檛 do anything about it.鈥
Now at age 65, Harmon finally has that saxophone. While she has struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, low self-esteem, and self-harm tendencies throughout her life, Harmon walked away from the Optimal Aging Program at Huntsman Mental Health Institute armed with tools and techniques to manage her mental health, and a saxophone, thanks to a gerontologist in the program who helped her find one and encouraged her to play after hearing her story.
鈥淚t was just an incredible thing that somebody would do something that kind,鈥 Harmon says. 鈥淚t made me feel like I was listened to. Everyone in that program seemed like they cared about me as a person, and that made a big difference because I have lower self-esteem, and they made me feel like I have a lot of things to contribute.鈥
Mental Health Hurdles for Older Adults
The inevitable truth is that we are all aging. More Americans are living longer these days than ever. According to the , the average life expectancy in the U.S. increased from 76.4 years in 2021 to 78.4 years in 2023. The estimates that by 2050, more than 2.1 billion people globally will be age 60 or older. With a larger portion of the population living longer, it鈥檚 important to address the unique mental health needs and challenges faced by older adults.
Aging increases the risk of immobility, chronic pain, and neuropsychological conditions like dementia, all of which can result in poor mental health. Even if the person is in good physical health, older adults may face loneliness, stress of caring for or losing loved ones, and a loss of purpose and structure after retirement, increasing the risk of developing depression or anxiety.
鈥淧racticing good mental health habits promotes resiliency, and older adults especially encounter major life changes and transitions,鈥 says Briana Velarde, a gerontologist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute. 鈥淚mproving one鈥檚 resiliency empowers us to adapt to these changes and find new meaning and purpose, which also promotes longevity and overall well-being.鈥
Harmon has been utilizing therapy for years, including individual talk therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. However, when her psychiatrist suggested the Optimal Aging Program, she was open to giving it a try.
鈥淚t just sounded like something I would like to do to connect with people and gain more tools to have in my toolbox,鈥 Harmon says.
What is Optimal Aging?
Optimal aging is the idea that a person can be physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually fulfilled and lead a satisfying, high-quality life as they get older. The Optimal Aging Program aims to provide top-notch mental health care to people aged 50 and over so that they can thrive at every stage of their lives.
鈥淭he traditional concept of successful aging often is defined by the absence of disease and disability, which can be very exclusionary,鈥 Velarde says. 鈥淥ptimal aging is a more inclusive, realistic approach to aging. It鈥檚 a holistic perspective that emphasizes well-being across physical, cognitive, emotional, and social domains, all while adapting to life鈥檚 changes.鈥
A Day in the Life of Program Attendee
Harmon still works full time, but her employer allowed her time off to attend the program, which is Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM. She found the group therapy sessions to be particularly helpful, and also participated in art, music therapy, and light exercise. The program also has mindfulness classes, community resources, and educational sessions about aging. Each class and therapy session provides individualized care with gerontologists, geriatric psychiatrists, and social workers.
鈥淚 have very low self-esteem, and so I see things through my own little lens, but in group therapy other people listen to what you have to say, and they might see things a little bit differently than you and have suggestions,鈥 Harmon says. 鈥淲e were all very different from each other, but we were a good support system for each other too.鈥
Harmon says her OCD has made her nervous to do art projects in the past, often becoming so judgmental of her work that she would rip it up. However, the Optimal Aging team encouraged her to keep trying new things with her art.
鈥淭hey would tell me my work was actually very creative, and I realized that art is a fun way to express yourself,鈥 Harmon says.
After the guided therapy sessions, the group would have lunch with each other, which is another low-pressure way for the attendees to socialize and feel like they鈥檙e a part of a community.
鈥淎 really significant component to our program is the lunch afterwards,鈥 Velarde says. 鈥淭here is a critical link to social interaction and mental health, so social engagement in older adults is really important.鈥
Is the Optimal Aging Program Right for You?
The Optimal Aging Program is great for adults who are at least 50 years old who would benefit from a patient-centered approach to mental health and aging. If you鈥檝e had previous outpatient or inpatient mental health treatments, or have had little success with other forms of therapy, you may be a good candidate for the program.
It鈥檚 important to note that you will need to commit to attending the program every weekday morning for two to six weeks and provide your own transportation. Harmon鈥檚 insurance covered her treatment in the program, so check with your carrier to learn what they will cover.
The program may not be suitable for people with moderate to severe dementia, active psychosis, or active substance use disorder (SUD).
Since completing the program, Harmon gained new skills to help her cope in her everyday life. She also has two emotional-support chinchillas, Nyx and Tiki.
鈥淚 used to get stuck in a thinking pattern of constantly going over my mistakes or thinking about a time where I thought I did a bad job, but the program taught me skills to do when I do have those thoughts,鈥 Harmon says, 鈥淎nd then being able to talk about it in group therapy just made me feel really supported and see myself differently.鈥
Harmon hopes to volunteer with the program in the future, and thinks it鈥檚 a valuable resource for older adults to know that they are not alone, and it鈥檚 okay to ask for help.