Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

The growing proportion of people living longer has significant implications for the provision of health services, and for strategies to maintain health and well-being into old age. Historically there has been a predominant focus on medical services targeting physical health issues in the quest to improve wellbeing. Mental health services and psychotherapy has traditionally been focused on the needs of children, teenagers, and young adults with the needs of older adults underrepresented in public heath policies and funding for mental health services. Older adults now live longer and experience significant mental health issues, which if addressed in public health policies and funding, can make a significant contribution to their wellbeing. Among some of the cultural changes among older adults, they now form romantic relationships later in their lives, since many live longer. For instance, an increasing number of adults now seek therapy for relationship issues. Studies of how COVID affected older adults surprisingly found that it was reported that romantic life and dating was the most affected. In a further cultural change, during COVID older adults discovered online therapy and now make up a significant portion of clients using this modality. Understanding the mental issues of older adults can significantly impact the ways in which aging is viewed and managed from individual and societal perspectives. This presentation will provide a perspective on the frequency and ratio that older adults now access psychotherapy and explore the topics for which they access mental health services.