By Dr. Jeremy C. Holloway

I am honored to share that I will be presenting “Social Determinants of Mental Health & Wellbeing” at the 2026 TX Nursing Home Coalition Convention & Expo on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during the Quality & Clinical education session.

This topic matters deeply because mental health and wellbeing are shaped by far more than diagnosis, medication, or treatment plans. They are shaped by the conditions surrounding a person’s life: relationships, environment, culture, grief, access to care, mobility, purpose, communication, safety, and the feeling of being valued.

Healthy People 2030 defines social determinants of health as the conditions where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. These conditions influence health, functioning, quality of life, and risk.

In long-term care and nursing home settings, this becomes especially important.

A resident’s mental health may be affected by social isolation, loneliness, stigma, family distance, generational experiences, communication barriers, limited autonomy, chronic illness, grief, or the loss of familiar routines. A staff member’s wellbeing may be affected by stress, moral distress, staffing pressures, workplace culture, and the emotional weight of caregiving.

Mental health is personal, but it is also environmental.

Social Connection Is a Health Issue

The National Academies has described social isolation and loneliness among older adults as serious public health risks. Their report notes that a significant number of older adults experience social isolation, and these risks are too often underrecognized in healthcare systems.

The U.S. Surgeon General has also emphasized that social connection is central to health and wellbeing, with chronic loneliness and social isolation linked to increased health risks, including dementia among older adults.

This matters because nursing homes and long-term care communities are not simply places where care is delivered. They are places where people live, remember, grieve, adapt, connect, and continue to matter.

When we talk about social determinants of mental health, we are really asking:

Who feels seen?

Who feels heard?

Who feels safe enough to share what they need?

Who feels connected to others?

Who feels like their story still matters?

Why Communication Is Part of Mental Health

One of the most practical tools we have is communication.

A resident’s experience can change when a staff member takes time to listen differently. A family conversation can shift when someone clarifies instead of assumes. A care plan can become more meaningful when it includes what matters to the person, not only what is clinically required.

Cross-cultural communication also plays an important role. Culture includes race, language, faith, region, family structure, age, profession, disability, trauma history, and lived experience. In healthcare, communication across these differences affects trust, care planning, and emotional safety.

The CDC notes that loneliness and social isolation place people at risk for serious mental and physical health conditions. This means connection should be treated as part of care quality, not as an optional extra.

Practical Strategies for Long-Term Care Teams

In my session, I will focus on practical ways healthcare and long-term care professionals can strengthen dignity, cultural awareness, resilience, and person-centered support.

A few starting points include:

Ask better questions.
Questions such as “What has been on your mind lately?” or “What helps you feel connected here?” can open the door to meaningful conversation.

Listen for loss and purpose.
Mental health is often connected to identity. Many residents are adjusting to changes in independence, family roles, routines, or physical ability.

Notice isolation before crisis.
Withdrawal, quietness, irritability, sadness, or loss of interest may be signals that someone needs connection and support.

Build small moments of dignity.
Using a preferred name, remembering a story, honoring a routine, or asking about personal history can help a person feel valued.

Support the workforce too.
Staff wellbeing affects resident wellbeing. Resilient care environments require communication, teamwork, emotional support, and leaders who understand the human side of care.

The Larger Opportunity

The future of long-term care will require more than compliance and clinical skill. It will require deeper attention to the social, emotional, cultural, and relational factors that shape wellbeing.

A strong care environment does more than reduce risk. It helps people stay connected to meaning, memory, identity, and community.

This is why I continue to believe that human connection belongs at the center of healthcare.

I look forward to joining the TX Nursing Home Coalition Convention & Expo and contributing to this important conversation about mental health, wellbeing, and person-centered care in long-term care settings.