Mental Health In Older People Is A 'Poor Relation', Says Help The Aged, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Mental Health
Article Date: 26 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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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."

Notes:

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. Visit http://www.helptheaged.org.uk or call 0207 239 1982.

Change a life overseas by sponsoring a grandparent today. Visit http://www.sponsoragrandparent.org.uk to find out more.

Help the Aged is a registered charity, number 272786. Registered company number 1263446, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England. Registered office: 207 - 221 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9UZ. VAT Number: 564 55 9800

Source:
Help the Aged
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk