Healthy ageing mental health services
Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) is committed to enhancing health services for older people in our region, including those who are living independently, as well as those in residential aged care homes.
On this page:
Mental health and ageing
Generally, people in the community over the age of 65 years have poor access to mental health services. Those living in residential aged care homes are particularly challenged, experiencing mental health issues at a significantly higher rate than those people living in the community.
Factors increasing the risk of mental health issues in older age include:
- Poor physical health
- A history of mental health issues
- Life transitions
- New medical illness
- Losses in life
- Social isolation
- Adverse life events
The Healthy Ageing Service, delivered by St Vincent’s Hospital, is addressing the holistic needs of people aged over 65 years, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged over 55 years.
What is the Healthy Ageing Service?
Recognising the particular mental health challenges facing older persons, the Healthy Ageing Service involves:
- Identifying people at risk of mental health issues.
- Providing support and workforce training in mental health to GPs, practice staff, and residential aged care home staff, to drive collaborative team-based care.
- Increasing support to older people with mental health issues (and their families) who are living in the community or in residential aged care facilities by providing up to six free brief intervention sessions for the older person.
The Healthy Ageing Service involves a ‘whole-of-person’ approach, taking into consideration other support needs, including alcohol and drug treatment, suicide prevention, psychosocial support, housing and physical health.
Healthy Ageing Service Resources
Healthy Ageing Service information for GPs
Download PDF [113.56 kb]
Healthy Ageing Service information for Residential Aged Care Homes (RACH)
Download PDF [113.13 kb]
Healthy Ageing Service information for the community
Download PDF [314.52 kb]