In October 2021, COTA Australia began a research project with the Australian National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) to gauge how the COVID-19 Pandemic affected the mental health and wellbeing of Older Australians. The aim of the research was to inform the National Pandemic Response Plan.
We asked to hear directly from people aged 75 and over about how they managed during the Pandemic and lockdowns, and to what extent, if at all, their mental health and wellbeing were affected. We surveyed over 1,000 older Australians, conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups, and received written submissions.
We heard that the COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdowns have had profound impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of people aged 75 and over.
These impacts have manifested in different ways (including loneliness, fear, loss of social connections, worsening mental health and reduced physical activity, leading to cognitive decline). Some symptoms were evident to varying degrees even among those who said that their mental health was ‘not affected.’
While a number of older Australians reported experiencing some positive impacts and focused on narratives of resilience and stoicism, they too were affected by loneliness and isolation, feelings of fear and loss of purpose.
Particularly affected were older Australians in residential aged care, people with disability, people living with dementia, those with caring responsibilities, older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
COTA Australia’s research suggests that the COVID-19 Pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities, created new ones, and heightened the impact of ageism on the lived experience of older people during the Pandemic. These impacts are likely to be long term, and will require localised, iterative, and committed responses to address them.
We need to ensure that the strategies that people aged 75 and over asked for – strong social connections, the right information, access to social support and services, age-informed mental health expertise, and engagements with community-based organisations – are in place, adequately funded and accessible to all.
We also need to reiterate the right of older people to adequate and appropriate mental health services, and that this should inform any crisis response.