World Mental Health Day 2024: Mental Health in later life
Today is World Mental Health Day (WMHD), and at Ascot Care we want to help raise awareness of the mental health challenges faced by older adults.
This year, WMHD’s theme is “mental health at work”, and as work is such a big part of our identity through our lifetime, it’s important to shed a light on the mental health of those who are close to retirement age and past it.
How does retirement affect mental health?
Retirement can be a challenging time for many, as people have less contact with the friends they made at work and change their routine. This can leave them feeling like they lost their sense of purpose, and isolated from the communities that once formed part of their support system.
Whilst most older people won’t develop mental health problems after retirement, those who live alone or experience bereavement, disability or physical illness are more vulnerable during their later years.
What mental health problems do people experience in later life?
As people age, they can face a range of mental health problems that affect their daily lives to different degrees. These can range from mood disorders such as depression and anxiety to cognitive impairments such as loss of vision or hearing, through to complex conditions resulting from brain injuries.
Some of the most common mental health conditions in people over 65 are:
Mental health conditions: Conditions like depression, anxiety, and dementia can make it difficult for older people to engage in everyday activities. Whilst there is no cure for some conditions such as dementia, there are treatments to help family members and carers manage the symptoms and increase the older person’s quality of life.
Brain injuries: Brain injuries can be caused by accidents, strokes, or neurological conditions, and often lead to cognitive impairments and behavioural changes. People with a brain injury can be cared for by family members, but their symptoms may make it harder to provide care without professional help.
Severe mental illness: Some older people might develop mental health conditions so debilitating that they impair their ability to engage in day-to-day activities,. such as taking care of themselves. This includes bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorders (also known as PTSD), and major depressive disorder. Older people experiencing severe mental health illness can be treated with talking therapy and medication in the first stages and cared for by professionals later on.
What are the signs of mental health problems in older people?
When it comes to mental health issues, the symptoms to look for may vary. However, some of the common symptoms are:
Signs of depression and anxiety: People with depression and/or anxiety may self-isolate, express feelings of sadness or hopelessness, be worried, nervous or overwhelmed, find themselves drinking more alcohol than normal, or be unable to enjoy the same things that they used to like, such as hobbies.
Signs of brain injury: An older person with an existing brain injury may experience confusion, memory loss, mood swings, and impulsive behaviours. Brain injuries might be the result of a stroke, which will often happen suddenly. Symptoms of a stroke are face weakness, arm weakness and slurred speech. The NHS has more information about strokes.
Other signs: Aggression, extreme withdrawal, impulsivity, and disorientation are common among older adults dealing with mental health issues or brain injuries. These are commonly referred to as “challenging behaviours” and they can be particularly distressing for family carers, who may lack the training or resources to manage them effectively.
How can I support my loved one at home if they have a mental illness?
While many older adults prefer to stay in their own homes or live with family, managing complex mental health needs and challenging behaviours can be overwhelming for informal carers. Often, a person’s mental health condition or brain injury requires more than just day-to-day assistance—it demands specialised care. Professional support, whether from community mental health services or in-home care providers, is crucial for ensuring the individual’s physical and mental well-being, as well as the safety of those around them.
Specialist services such as Ascot Care Agency can offer tailored care plans that address the specific needs of older adults, focusing on improving their mental health while helping them remain as independent as possible. These services may include counselling, occupational therapy, and behavioural support, which can be delivered in the home or as part of community-based programmes.
How can I support my loved one if they need specialist support?
In some cases, the mental health needs of an older adult may become too complex to manage at home, even with professional support. This is when families may consider the need for more specialist environments, like those offered by care homes with dedicated mental health and brain injury services.
Facilities such as Ascot Care’s Blackwell Suite at The Garden’s Care Home provide a safe, structured environment where individuals with complex needs can receive the round-the-clock care they require, alongside therapeutic activities, such as reminiscence therapy and social engagement programmes.
Whether temporarily or permanently, a specialist care facility like the Blackwell Suite can help your loved one maintain a certain level of independence supported by the right blend of professional and family care, whilst providing you as their carer, with some respite.
World Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health matters at every age, and older adults should not be left behind in our efforts to improve mental health care. By supporting individuals and their families with the resources and expertise they need, we can help people live healthier, more fulfilling lives after retirement, at home, in their communities, and beyond.