The following is selected content from an AAA article: "Australian Ageing Agency recently reported that Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's new report indicated the majority of aged care residents are diagnosed with at least one mental health or behavioural condition. In 2017-18, almost half of residents were diagnosed with depression (49 per cent), up from 47 per cent in 2016-17 and 46 per cent in 2015-16". My comment to the article is as follows: A move to resident

The recent Inquiry into Mental Health appears to consider mental health in relation to economic participation, productivity and economic growth. However, older people, long retired and economically unproductive (except they may volunteer), may experience poor mental health for various reasons such as downsizing in a different suburb or moving to community living in a retirement village with rules for a new way of living. I am not a psychologist or mental health social worker

An investigation by BACP (UK) identified, through its members, that older people faced barriers in accessing therapy in Northern Ireland (area-specific investigation). Barriers ranged from inconsistency in referral from GPs to difficulties with mobility and access to transport, from an over-reliance on medication for common mental health problems to the fear of the unknown. The research, according to BACP, suggests that counselling and psychotherapy are effective interventi

We're now 11 days into 2019. I didn't start out with many resolutions. Just one... remain in work. The rollover forced me to consider new options. I am in the process of registering as a NDIS provider and if successful, will be able to support people with a disability who have a NDIS Plan and who need therapeutic supports. So watch this space for news. #carolinecounselling #counsellingforchange #NDIS #change

Dementia is a disease that causes upheaval not only for the person but their network of support. It appears that, according to Craig Ritchie, Professor of Psychiatry & Ageing at the University of Edinburgh, the fight to prevent Alzheimer’s disease needs to start at middle age. While we can take up new challenges like learn a new instrument or continue crosswords to maintain brain health, the evidence suggests that we need to remain socially connected. While there’s no guaran

If someone you know is going through a difficult time, it can be hard to know how to help them. Starting the conversation about offering help can be difficult. Questions to ask may be ones such as, I am worried about you. Would you like to talk? Is there something I can help you with? Talking with you or someone else may help the person feel less alone and perhaps give them a different perspective on the problem they are facing (BACP 2018). #carolinecounselling #counsellingfo

Counselling as a therapy and therapeutic process does not provide a cure to a person’s mental illness nor aims to solve life’s challenges. However, counselling can help improve a person’s quality of life whether this means exploring relationship issues or perception of self as one gets older or coping with a disability or chronic health condition. Some other ways of ‘doing’ change in counselling are described below (AIFS, 2016). Positive expectations and hope Relationship fac

Some people don't know where to start or reasons to engage in therapy. Talking therapies can help with many difficult life problems - from coping with traumatic experiences and events to dealing with depression and anxiety or managing harmful emotions and behaviours. This site has a A-Z selection of possible problems that you can refer to for therapy with me or any other mental health professional (BACP 2018). Read more HERE. #carolinecounselling #counsellingforchange #change