Recent research from the University of Oklahoma suggests that survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing carry physiological traces of the trauma, even though study participants have gone on to lead healthy and resilient lives. Essentially, their bodies “remember” the trauma even if they don’t have physical or mental health problems. Survivors had higher blood pressure but a lower heart rate in response to trauma cues, suggesting their response may have become blunted over time. The Body Remembers: Trauma Leaves Lasting Biological Imprints highlights how biological processes can carry the weight of trauma long after the mind appears resilient.

The study, which included 60 heavily impacted, direct survivors of the bombing compared to a control group of local people who were not affected, underscores how trauma informed care in senior living can make a real difference. As Dr. Phebe Tucker, lead author and professor emeritus of psychiatry at the OU College of Medicine, explained: “The mind may be resilient and able to put things behind it, but the body doesn’t forget. It may remain on alert, waiting for the next thing to happen.”

Trauma informed care in senior living is real, it is important, and it can improve the quality of life for residents. HealthCap RMS has shared insights on the new trauma informed care approaches that can help communities better support residents who carry these hidden wounds. Now is the time to evaluate how you meet your residents’ needs. As the study found, there may not be any memory of the event, but the body never forgets. Consider the resident who is always calling for help, the resident who is angry or aggressive, or the one who quietly rocks back and forth. Our Trauma Informed Care Toolkit offers practical guidance on creating care plans that recognize these signs and provide compassionate, person-centered care. It’s not just our minds that remember trauma—our biological processes do too. It changes your actual physical being. Stay well and stay informed!