As you get older, it’s important to look after your physical health and emotional wellbeing.
It can be hard to adjust to big life changes, such as retirement. You can also be affected by issues like health problems, loss of independence, the loss of loved ones and loneliness.
These changes can make you feel worried, sad, anxious or even depressed. But it’s good to know there are many ways to feel mentally well as you age.
Learn more about things that can affect your emotional wellbeing, what you can do and support services that can help.
What can affect your emotional wellbeing as you age?
Accepting death as part of life
What you can do
When to see your doctor
Other resources and support
Lots of things can affect your emotional wellbeing as you get older. You may be affected by one major life change or many issues that build up over time.
As you get older, you may experience different kinds of grief and loss. For example, you might feel a loss of independence if you have health problems, or you may feel a loss of identity when you retire. You’re also likely to grieve the loss of loved ones as you age.
These changes can make you feel sad, worried or even depressed. But there are many things you can do to feel mentally well. For example:
You can also find useful information and supports on the following websites:
Social isolation and loneliness are growing issues for many older women in Australia. The 2018 Australian Loneliness Report found that 46% of Australians over 65 years feel they lack companionship at least sometimes, while about 9% say they feel lonely often, or always.
There are lots of health benefits associated with having good social connection.
It’s not always easy to maintain social connection but there are many things you can do to have an enjoyable social life.
Ageism is when people treat others differently because of their age. Many older people experience ageism in Australia. You might experience ageism in the community, at work or even within your family.
Many older women find it hard to stand up for themselves. If you need help with this, you can read our Confidence in older age fact sheet.
You can learn more about age discrimination on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
You may experience relationship problems and family conflict as you get older. Common causes of tension include money, retirement planning, living arrangements and conflict between family members.
If this affects you, talk to your doctor. They might suggest you see a psychologist or get help from other professionals such as counsellors or mediators.
Visit the Relationships Australia website for help with difficult relationships.
Elder abuse is when someone you trust does something to cause you harm. Elder abuse includes things like neglect, financial abuse, physical abuse, social abuse and sexual abuse. This can be very upsetting and stressful.
If you are worried about elder abuse happening to you, talk to your doctor and they can help you find the right support.
You can also:
Physical health problems can affect your mental health. If changes to your physical health are affecting your ability to enjoy life, it’s important to get help. Your doctor can link you to support services that will help you to stay safe and well at home.
Learn more about support services on the Australian Government My Aged Care website.
You can also visit the Australian Government Positive ageing website for information about how to live and age well.
Visit the LiveUp website (funded by the Australian Government) for information about how to stay independent around your home and in the community.
Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to people (e.g. partners, family members, friends or people in the community) who are older, have disability or physical or mental health conditions. About one in eight women in Australia are carers.
It can be challenging to juggle caring responsibilities with other daily demands, so it’s important to get the support you need to stay physically and mentally well.
You might be eligible for carer programs that give you a break (respite) and help you connect with other carers.
Learn more about carer programs on the Australian Government Carer Gateway website.
Visit the Carers Australia website to find Carers Australia organisations in your state to find Carers Australia organisations in your state
Even though we know we can’t live forever, it’s hard to think and talk about death. Coming to terms with death means accepting that everyone, including us, will die eventually.
Research shows that thinking about death can result in negative thoughts, but it can also help us to live better.
Accepting death can help you:
If you find it hard to accept death, you can talk to a counsellor or a spiritual leader.
There are many practical things you can do to have good mental health. For example:
Learn more about relaxation, meditation and mindfulness.
Talk to your doctor if you haven’t been feeling yourself and your mental health stops you from doing things you normally do. They can refer you to local support services or other health providers to get the help you need.
There are many organisations that can help if you’re concerned about your mental health.
This content has been reviewed by a group of medical subject matter experts, in accordance with Jean Hailes policy.
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