Since 2019 VHS has collaborated with Support in Mind Scotland and colleagues from across the third and public sectors, to scope what happens to people with mental health conditions other than or alongside dementia once they become 65. Issues we have been exploring include under-diagnosis, under-provision, poor transitions from ‘adult’ services to ‘older people’ services, discrimination and flouting of human rights. It is said that for some people with serious mental health issues, their 65th birthday is like ‘falling off a cliff’ in terms of service provision. We have been gathering evidence in order to raise awareness of the issues faced by people and to try and improve policy and practice.
We have developed a background briefing, held two round table meetings and commissioned two evidence reports on this topic. Here is a compilation of the background briefing, the notes from these meetings and the evidence reports – FALLING OFF A CLIFF AT 65 DISCUSSION PAPER AND EVIDENCE Final
If you would like to view these documents individually you can do so here – Key Learnings
Together with Support in Mind Scotland we are meeting the Head of Mental Health in the Scottish Government later this month to discuss the evidence we have gathered and to explore what actions might be taken to improve access during transition from adult to older people services.
We would like to invite third sector organisations to contribute any evidence of their own or feedback on the resources we have collated. If you would like to share your views and evidence please contact: Kiren Zubairi, Policy and Engagement Officer on Kiren.Zubairi@vhscotland.org.uk
