For many Canberrans, caring for an older parent, partner or family member is something that crept up gradually. One conversation about driving, a few extra visits to help around the house and a growing sense that things have shifted and that the person you love needs more support than they did before.
Caring is an act of love, but it can also be demanding work. One of the things that often falls through the cracks, both for the person being cared for and for the people doing the caring, is mental health.
The mental health of older adults
Older adults face a distinct set of mental health challenges that are often under recognised. The later years of life can bring significant loss: the death of a partner or close friends, reduced mobility, a shift away from work, and the identity and routine that came with it, and for some, a move into residential care.
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health conditions experienced by older people, yet they are frequently missed or misattributed to physical health decline or simply ‘getting older’. The reality is that low mood, persistent worry, withdrawal from activities, and disrupted sleep are not inevitable parts of ageing. They are signs that someone may need support.
Canberra’s winters can intensify these difficulties. The cold and reduced daylight limit the kinds of activities, outings and social contact that help maintain wellbeing. For older people living alone or in care, the isolation of the colder months can be particularly pronounced.
Signs that something might be off
When you are close to someone, gradual changes can be easy to miss. It can help to step back occasionally and look for patterns rather than individual moments. Things worth paying attention to include:
- Withdrawal from activities or social contact they previously enjoyed.
- Persistent low mood, tearfulness or expressions of hopelessness.
- Increased irritability or agitation, which can sometimes be a sign of depression in older people.
- Changes in appetite, weight or sleep.
- A loss of interest in personal hygiene or the upkeep of their home.
- Increased talk about feeling like a burden, about death, or about not wanting to be here.
- Significant memory concerns or confusion that seems to be worsening.
If you notice several of these signs persisting over a few weeks, it is worth raising them with a GP. A Mental Health Care Plan can provide access to subsidised psychological support, and a GP can also assess whether there are any physical health factors contributing to how the person is feeling.
What carers often experience
Caring for an older person is one of the most selfless things a person can do. However. it is also one of the most tiring. Carer burnout is real, and it tends to develop slowly. The warning signs are easy to dismiss because caring responsibilities do not pause to let you recover.
If you are a carer, it is worth noticing whether you are:
- Feeling exhausted in a way that sleep does not fix.
- Becoming resentful, short-tempered or emotionally flat.
- Putting off your own medical appointments or personal needs.
- Feeling cut off from your own friends, interests or life outside of caring.
- Experiencing anxiety about what will happen if the situation changes.
These are not signs of weakness or of not caring enough, they are signs that you need support too. Carers who look after their own wellbeing are better placed to continue caring. That is not a platitude; it is simply true.
Carers ACT offers a range of support services for unpaid carers in the ACT, including counselling, respite coordination, peer support and practical assistance. If you are a carer needing support, you can reach them on 1800 422 737.
When residential care becomes part of the picture
For some families, a point comes where the level of care needed is beyond what can be provided at home. Making the decision to move a parent or loved one into residential care is one of the hardest conversations a family can have. Feelings of guilt, grief and uncertainty are common, even when the decision is clearly the right one.
It is also worth knowing that entering residential care does not mean mental health support becomes someone else’s responsibility. The transition to a new environment can be disorienting and difficult, and residents need and deserve emotional and psychological care alongside their physical needs. Access to psychological support within the care setting makes a real difference to residents’ quality of life and sense of self.
Psychological support in residential aged care: Think WISE
Think WISE (Wellbeing, Independence, Support and Empathy) is a psychological service for residents of residential aged care homes across the ACT. The service is delivered by Think Mental Health and funded through the ACT Primary Health Network, meaning there is no cost to residents or their families.
Think WISE operates as an in-reach model, meaning psychologists visit residents in their care home rather than asking residents to travel to a clinic. This removes a significant barrier to access, particularly for residents with limited mobility or who are experiencing memory concerns.
The service supports residents experiencing low mood, anxiety, grief, adjustment difficulties, loneliness and other mental health concerns. Think WISE also works alongside aged care staff to build awareness of mental health needs within each facility.
Think WISE currently operates across a number of residential aged care homes in the ACT. To find out whether the service is available at a particular facility, or to make an enquiry, contact the Think WISE team on 02 6253 0222 or at wise@thinkmh.com.au.
Mental health difficulties in older adults are treatable, start the conversation today
Whether you are concerned about an older person’s mental health, struggling with the demands of caring, or thinking about what support looks like as someone’s needs increase, the most useful thing you can do is start talking, with the person themselves, with their GP, or with a service that can help, such as Think Mental Health or ThinkWISE.
Mental health difficulties in older adults are treatable. With the right support, people can experience real improvement in mood, engagement and quality of life, regardless of their age or care situation.