Resources

Little is known about anxiety in aged care populations, despite its increase in this frail population. This study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders investigated the prevalence, recording, and treatment rate of anxiety disorders among aged care residents.

The Centre for Mental Health Learning Victoria provides a directory of training opportunities in topics relevant to mental health for people over 65 years. Includes links to online courses, past webinars or training that can be provided at a service.

For some older people, talking about personal matters does not come easy. This sheet from Beyond Blue provides tips and strategies for older people with mental health concerns to share how they are feelings with people who may support them.

The More Good Days Wellness Wheel from the Department of Health and Aged Care is a tool for home care support workers to help them understand what is important to their client, what gives their life meaning, where they currently are, and where they want to be.

This tookit from Relationships Australia SA was designed to support capacity building and confidence of care workers when responding to residents of aged care facilities with common mental health issues.

This report prepared by the Health Services Union and United Voice explores quality from the perspectives of older people, their family members and care workers. This provides an outline of the factors known to build social and emotional wellbeing in aged care settings.

University of Queensland researchers are using Virtual Reality technology to reduce behavioural and psychological problems in older people - especially those living in aged care facilities or with neurological disorders. (1 min)

If you’re concerned about an older person being anxious or depressed, or just not coping, then it is important to take the first step. In this video from Beyond Blue, people share their experiences of talking to older adults they were worried about. (4 min)

This information sheet from Beyond Blue provides tips and strategies for opening up a conversation with an older person experiencing anxiety, depression, or not coping.

The Geriatric Depression Scale is a 15-item self-report measure of depression in older adults. Available and validated in multiple languages. Available as an app.