Press Release
Age Concern response to DoH report on mental health
Gordon Lishman, Director General, Age Concern England said:
"By highlighting the discriminatory regulations that blight older people's mental health, this report is taking a bold step forward.
"At 65, people with mental health problems are shunted like parcels from specialist mental health services into generic older adults' services. Once they are deemed 'old', these vulnerable people can be severed from the specialist treatment and support they had received.
"Depression amongst the older population has reached crisis point. The fact that 60% of older people in care homes suffer depression is lamentable. Health and care professionals need better training to spot the signs of poor mental health.
"The Government must take immediate action to right the wrongs that are spelt out so clearly in this report. The 'simple vision' is just step one; step two needs to be a clear timetable for Government action.
"Discriminatory age barriers should be axed as a matter of urgency, so that all older people have fair access to specialist mental health services. As reported, more money needs to be ploughed into older people's mental health now to combat the epidemic of depression in later life and to modernise services for older adults with mental health problems. "
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