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Emotional wellbeing as you age

As you get older, it’s important to take care of both your physical health and emotional wellbeing.
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What can affect your emotional wellbeing?

Many things can impact your emotional wellbeing as you get older. It might be one big life change or lots of smaller issues that build up over time.

Grief and loss

As you get older, you may experience different kinds of grief and loss. For example, health problems might lead to a loss of independence, or retiring might cause a loss of identity. You may also grieve the loss of loved ones.

These changes can be hard and might make you feel sad, anxious or even depressed. But there are lots of ways to support your mental health, such as:

  • connecting with friends, family and community groups
  • learning about anxiety and how to manage it
  • talking to your doctor about seeing a counsellor or psychologist.

Taking these steps can help you feel more supported and improve your wellbeing.

You can also find useful information and supports on the following websites:

Social isolation

Social isolation and loneliness are growing issues for older women in Australia.

There are many things you can do to stay connected as you age.

Relationship problems

You may experience relationship problems and family conflict as you get older. Common causes of tension include:

  • money
  • retirement planning
  • living arrangements
  • 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.

For help with difficult relationships, visit the Relationships Australia website.

Ageism

Ageism is when someone treats you differently because of your age. Many older people in Australia face ageism. This can happen in the community, at work or even within your own family.

Learn about age discrimination from the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse happens when someone you trust causes you harm. It can be very upsetting and stressful.

Elder abuse can include:

  • neglect
  • financial abuse
  • physical abuse
  • social abuse
  • sexual abuse.

If you’re worried about elder abuse, talk to your doctor. They can help you find the right support. You can also:

  • choose a trustworthy lawyer to manage your estate planning so your assets are protected and your wishes are followed
  • visit the Australian Banking Association website and download the fact sheet about how to protect yourself from financial abuse
  • visit this Australian Government website to learn about elder abuse and services that can help
  • learn more about elder abuse on the Australian Human Rights Commission website, including elder abuse resources in different languages
  • call the Australian elder abuse phone line 1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374)
  • call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)
  • call the police if your money has been stolen – financial abuse is a crime
  • call triple zero (000) in an emergency.

Physical health

Physical health problems can impact your mental health. If changes in your physical health are making it harder to enjoy life, it’s important to reach out for help. Your doctor can connect you with support services to help you to stay safe and well at home.

Explore available support services on My Aged Care.

Caring for others

Carers provide unpaid care for people such as partners, family members, friends or others in the community). These may be people who are older or have a disability, physical health issues or mental health conditions.

In Australia, one in 8 women are carers.

If you’re a carer, you may be able to access support programs that give you a break and help you connect with others.

Explore programs on the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway.

Find local support on Carers Australia.

Accepting death as part of life

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:

  • focus on important things in your life, including your health and relationships
  • live in the moment
  • live with purpose
  • organise your affairs (e.g. finances, end-of-life care and funeral plans).

If you find it hard to accept death, you can talk to a counsellor or a spiritual leader.

What you can do to have good mental health

There are many ways to look after your mental health. For example:

When to see your doctor

Talk to your doctor if you haven’t been feeling yourself and your mental health is stopping you from doing everyday activities. They can refer you to local support services or other health providers to get the help you need.

Other resources and support

There are many organisations that can help if you’re concerned about your mental health.

  • My Aged Care – provides aged care services. Call 1800 200 422.
  • Older Persons Advocacy Network – offers free support and information for older people. Call 1800 700 600.
  • Open Arms – provides mental health support for veterans, Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. Call 1800 011 046.
  • Head to Health – can connect you to mental health support. Call 1800 595 212.
  • Lifeline – supports people experiencing emotional distress. Call 13 11 14 or chat online.
  • Beyond Blue – has information about mental health issues. Call 1300 22 4636.
  • Black Dog Institute – provides information about better mental health.
  • SANE Australia – supports people living with a mental illness. Call 1800 187 263.