The likelihood of being diagnosed with a mental health condition increases markedly for Australians in their 80s and 90s – with a higher prevalence than those in their teens and 20s – but little tailored support is available to suit older people’s needs.
Silverchain Foundation has launched an appeal to address the escalating mental health needs of older Australians, particularly those who choose to age at home.
Driven by a significant gap in mental health care for older people living at home, funds raised will enable Silverchain to develop evidence-based tools and training programs to empower aged care workers to identify and respond to their clients’ complex mental health conditions early.
Silverchain Foundation’s Executive Director Bronwyn Perry said Australian Census data shows that the likelihood of being diagnosed with a mental health condition increases significantly as people age.
“This reflects the experience of our 6,000-strong team across Australia, with our care and clinical teams reporting a rise in clients presenting with complex mental health conditions – conditions that require more visits, more support, and place people at greater risk of hospitalisation or premature admission to residential aged care,” Ms Perry said.
“Too many older Australians receiving home care struggle with complex mental health conditions, alone. Without the right support, their symptoms can go unnoticed. We need the community’s help to address this urgent gap in care.
“Early intervention is critical – if we can better support our care teams to recognise mental health concerns early through better tools and training, we can help people stay well at home for longer, ease pressure on families, and prevent unnecessary visits to hospital.”
A Silverchain-led study published in the Australian Journal on Ageing earlier this year revealed more than 60 per cent of older Australians receiving in home aged care have symptoms of depression or anxiety. Silverchain has designed an effective model of care to support older people to access the mental health care they need in a way that suits them.
“Through the generous support of our community, we have already been able to improve support for older people experiencing depression and anxiety, and now we need to address complex mental health conditions. Together, we can provide better care for older Australians, giving them the dignity, confidence, and support they deserve,” Ms Perry said.
“Despite the growing need, complex mental health issues remain a hidden problem within aged care, often overlooked by policymakers. We have the opportunity to address a critical gap to ensure older Australians receive the support they need to age well at home.”
Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison, Silverchain’s Director of Research Discovery and clinical psychologist, said mental health care is a significant gap in Australia’s aged care system.
“Our research shows that symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among older Australians receiving care at home – yet mental health care is not routinely integrated into aged care services,” Adjunct Professor Davison said.
“With the right training, our care teams can recognise these challenges early and provide support that makes a real difference to a person’s wellbeing.
“Silverchain is committed to developing and testing practical, evidence-based tools and training programs to help care teams identify and respond to complex mental health needs in the home, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, hoarding, obsessive compulsive disorder and problematic drug and alcohol use.
“With the support of the community, we can improve not only the physical health of older people but also their mental health and their quality of life,” Adjunct Professor Davison said.
Click this link to support the development of better mental health supports for older people.
