Feeling forgotten
Fewer older people are receiving mental health support than before the pandemic.
Tuesday 23 March 2021 will mark one year since the UK went into the first coronavirus lockdown. This sobering milestone is a time to us all to reflect on a year unlike any other — one which will leave its mark across society in many ways.
The need for mental health support
In a recent survey we ran with 129 people in later life, more than half (53%) of the respondents reported that their mental health had got worse or much worse since the introduction of the third lockdown in January 2021. Looking back to earlier in the pandemic, 58% of all respondents to the survey said they had sought some help or information for their mental health since June 2020.
While these findings aren’t representative of older people across the UK, they provide a snapshot of the ongoing impact of the pandemic on people’s wellbeing, their day-to-day lives through lockdown and the possibility of increased need for mental health support and information as we emerge from lockdown.
It is therefore particularly concerning to see that the number of older people receiving support through the NHS in England (NHSE) has reduced during the pandemic. Figures released in March by NHS Digital show a general decrease in people receiving talking therapies last year. Between July and September 2019, 24,776 people aged 65+ accessed talking therapy through NHSE. For the same quarter in 2020, the figure was 19,518 — a fall of over 5,000 referrals. This decrease in referrals is worrying at a time when support is most needed.
Even before the pandemic, the lower levels of mental health support older people received was a long-standing problem which we highlighted last year in our Minds that Matter report. People in later life should have the same opportunity to access talking therapy as people of any other age, particularly as NHSE figures consistently show that people aged 65+ have the best talking therapy recovery rates of all age groups.
Understanding the impact
At Independent Age, we have spent the last year responding to the pandemic and trying to understand its impact on people in later life. Across our work we emphasise that people over 65 are not a homogenous group, they are individuals with different circumstances, needs and ways of coping. Some will have experienced severe loneliness and devastating losses of loved ones in the past year. In the first lockdown alone, we estimate that up to 98,000 older people were bereaved of a partner. Whereas we know others have reconnected, forming bubbles with friends and family and finding new ways of keeping in touch.
Feeling forgotten
Many have told us they have experienced acute loneliness and isolation due to shielding, fear of going out in case they become infected or simply because they live too far from friends and family.
“I’m missing my family and not hugging/being hugged for almost a year.” Natasha
“Coronavirus has overtaken all other priorities making it more stressful to cope with the everyday problems including bereavement and other health issues.” Kate
Sadly, some have said that going weeks or months alone was nothing new for them. We are concerned about the cumulative effect of these issues on people’s wellbeing and mental health. Colleagues on the Independent Age Helpline have told us that people are particularly struggling with this most recent lockdown. Calls are lasting longer, people are feeling more isolated, anxious and emotional. Some say they feel forgotten.
Others are struggling specifically with bereavement and the way lockdown restrictions have interrupted the grieving process — which we know from our previous work can lead to difficulties from complicated grief.
“Unable to have a proper funeral and wake. With no chance of a family get-together in the near future there is no feeling of closure.” Bob
In our Home Truths report, some people said they had been impacted mentally because they had COVID-19 and survived it, and older age has also been identified as a potential risk factor for long COVID.
Green shoots
On the one-year lockdown anniversary, there are thankfully many green shoots of hope. The vaccination programme is progressing well and the roadmap out of lockdown is currently on track. But we cannot forget those who need help now or might need it in future. That’s why, at Independent Age, we are working to improve awareness of the things that can help or hinder mental health in later life, and to highlight to the government and the NHS what more needs to be done across the UK to ensure older people can access help when they need it.
