Tag Archives: mental health

The baby boomers are longer-lived than previous generations, but they still experience similar rates of mental illness. Day clinics may be the way to address this concern. When most of us think of elderly mental-health problems, we think of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. But psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety are rife in older …

The interaction between physical and mental health has been attracting increasing attention.  People with long-term conditions are two to three times more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. The interdependency of mental and physical health has significant implications for individual patients. Mental health problems can complicate …

Creating a “community of care” outside hospital in the wider population could help revolutionize how we look after and care for those with mental health issues and dementia. South Korea has declared a “war on dementia” encompassing ideas around a “community of care”, which includes day dementia-care and prevention clinics, …

In recent years, there has been a shift away from a focus on illness alone, to more attention being placed on wellness, both in policy and health practice. “Five Ways to Well-being” is a set of five simple, evidenced-based actions which can improve wellbeing in everyday life for everyone, no …

Older people have diverse experiences of ageing. Mental health is just as important for older people as it is for younger people. Just over 7% of older adults living in the community experience mental illness and/or addiction each year. The prevalence of mental illness is estimated to be 3 – …

It was Gumboot Friday last week and the staff at Carter House Lifecare, Te Puke, decorated gumboots and invited residents and other staff to vote for their favourite and donate. Here is a photo of the winning boot:   Carolyn Gilmour, Carter House Lifecare facility manager said “We all felt …

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is run annually by the Mental Health Foundation and has been since 1993. MHAW is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and is marked in over 150 countries at different times of the year. In New Zealand, MHAW will be held on 8–14 …

They say baking soothes the soul. How can it not? There is something so reassuring about the ritual – quietly weighing out ingredients, whisking, beating, folding and kneading. It is not just indulging in the end results – the cake, the biscuits, the scones – that helps to brighten up a …

There is something just inherently good about getting out in nature. This is why green spaces and natural environments within neighbourhoods and residential built are essential for the health and well-being of older adults. Firstly, they can provide older adults with an opportunity to be active physically and socially. Secondly, …

This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week theme is “Nature is Key” It is estimated that over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder. 6.6% of all disability among over 60s are attributed to neurological and mental disorders. The most common neuropsychiatric …