Press Release

Mental health in older people is a 'poor relation' says Help the Aged

24 July 2008

Responding to the IPPR report, Older people and wellbeing, which shows a decline in mental health and emotional wellbeing in the over 65s, Lizzie McLennan, Senior Policy Officer at Help the Aged, says:

"Mental health in older people has for too long been a secondary concern, acting as the ‘poor relation’ to other physical health problems or mental health problems in younger people.

"Quality of life, dignity and personal well-being must always be the focus of the care and support someone receives.  Social care needs to focus on outcomes – people may receive care which meets their physical needs, but their emotional and mental wellbeing are too often overlooked completely.

"In some care homes there is little understanding of dementia or depression, meaning that both conditions go unrecognised and untreated, even though it could improve quality of life and wellbeing.  Being depressed is often wrongly assumed to be a normal part of growing older.

"Given the strong link between emotional wellbeing and loneliness, it’s incredibly important that local communities have services for older people that go beyond social care.  Older people, like people of all ages, need to be able to take part in activities and meet new people."