By Jayne Connery, Founder and Director, Care Campaign for the Vulnerable
Each year on World Mental Health Day (10th October), the global conversation turns towards the importance of mental wellbeing. In the care sector, much of that focus rightly centres on dementia, a condition that affects hundreds of thousands of older people across the UK. But while dementia remains one of the most visible mental health challenges in later life, it is by no means the only one.
Through my work with Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV), I have seen first-hand how many older people live with complex, overlapping mental health conditions that are often overlooked. Depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder can and do occur in older age, often coexisting alongside dementia or physical health conditions. These diagnoses are frequently misunderstood, under-recognised, or overshadowed by more visible care needs, yet they have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life.
I often hear from families who are deeply concerned about behaviours that go far beyond memory loss, such as heightened anxiety, paranoia, withdrawal, or sudden changes in mood. These are not simply ‘dementia behaviours’; they are signs of underlying mental health struggles that require the same level of attention, compassion, and clinical understanding as they would at any other stage of life.
The stigma surrounding mental health doesn’t disappear with age. In fact, it can become more entrenched. Many older people grew up in a time when mental health was rarely spoken about, let alone treated. As a result, they may minimise or hide their symptoms, and their care plans often fail to fully reflect their psychological needs. For care providers and professionals, this means listening more deeply, looking more closely, and being prepared to advocate strongly on their behalf.
Person-centred care is more than a slogan, it is a commitment to understanding the whole person, including their mental and emotional landscape. It means ensuring staff are trained to recognise signs of depression and anxiety, creating environments that reduce isolation, and providing access to specialist mental health support alongside dementia care. It also means involving families in conversations about their loved one’s history and personality, as past experiences can hold important clues about present-day behaviours.
My advocacy has always been centred on transparency, safety, and dignity in care and mental health is an inseparable part of that mission. I want to see a more holistic approach to supporting older people, one that respects their emotional wellbeing just as much as their physical and cognitive health.
World Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health has no age limit. Every person, regardless of their diagnosis, deserves to feel understood, valued, and supported. It’s time to ensure that care homes are not just places of safety, but places where mental wellbeing can truly flourish.
