Adverse factors and the mental health of older people: implications for social policy and professional practice.
Defining 'older people' as a homogenous group is problematic; it can lead to stereotypical and stigmatizing perceptions of what old age is, attracting consequent negative attitudes to later life. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that some in the older age bracket are subject to particular stressors and physical changes that can adversely affect their mental health. This paper will consider challenges to mental health in older age groups and particularly the phenomenon of dementia. The role and influence of diagnosis, social policy and professional practice will also be addressed and suggestions will be made as to how people could improve their responses to either the predisposition to or the actual occurrence of mental distress in later life. In addition, it is argued that person-centredness is important as the caring/cultural medium through which provisions and policies are mediated: that obtaining appropriate balances between corporate and individual contributions and interventions must constitute the context wherein future developments lie.
Clarke
J
J
Heathfield Ward, Department of Psychiatry, District General Hospital, King's Drive Eastbourne, UK. W.F.Clarke@bton.ac.uk
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D028723:Personhood; D011050:Policy Making; D011287:Prejudice; D011361:Professional Competence; D011640:Public Policy; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012380:Role; D013240:Stereotyping; D006113:United Kingdom