This includes discrimination in the different services available to those aged under 65 and those aged over 65.
However, the Royal College does not believe that this aim could be served by simply introducing a ‘one size fits all’ service for all adults, rather that development of and resources for specialist services catering to the particular mental health needs of older people is required. Arguing that access to specialist services should be ‘based on need, not age,’ the College believes that people should not be required to transfer to older people’s services as they turn 65 if age is the only reason for the move. Rather, those with problems specific to old age, such as dementia and mood disorders that have begun in later life, would be the main client group for older peoples’ mental health services.
The paper concludes that ‘...addressing age discrimination will require both investment in older people’s mental health services and better access for older people to services they are currently denied,’ and makes eight recommendations for action. These include:
- New Horizons mental health policy programme should explicitly promote the ideas contained in this paper, as should the Equality Bill;
- Comprehensive specialist older peoples’ mental health services must be developed, to include access to crisis resolution, psychological therapies, and close liaison with care homes and general hospitals;
- The allocation of resources across mental health services should take account of the ageing population.
Download the report: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/fairdeal.aspx