Older adults access to mental health and social care services during COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia

Authors/Creators

Claire Adams, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Eyal Gringart, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Daniel McAullay, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Moira Sim, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Brigitta Scarfe, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Amy Budrikis, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Natalie Strobel, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health and social services among older adults in Western Australia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 194 adults aged ≥ 70 years or ≥ 60 years with chronic conditions. A questionnaire co-developed by a consumer reference group was used to collect data on social networks and service access. Frequency analyses were used to assess quantitative data. Qualitative data were assessed using thematic analyses. Results: 62.7 % of participants reported being not at all/slightly affected by COVID-19; 40.7 % reported having three/four people to chat with. 76.3 % of participants did not access mental health or social services during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions. The remaining 23.7 % mostly accessed mental health-related services, with GPs the most common source of support. 18.0 % of the total sample reported choosing not to access services even though they would have liked to. Conclusions: Most older adults in this sample did not access mental health or social care services. 18.0 % of all participants felt they needed services but did not access them. This suggests there were some unmet needs within the community. Strengthening social networks may help protect older adults against psychosocial declines during and post-COVID-19.

RAS ID

54150

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

11-3-2022

Volume

74

Issue

1

Funding Information

Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DJTSI) under Edith Cowan University Covid-19 Research Projects Grant

School

Kurongkurl Katitjin / School of Arts and Humanities / School of Medical and Health Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Comments

Adams, C., Gringart, E., McAullay, D., Sim, M., Scarfe, B., Budrikis, A., & Strobel, N. (2022). Older adults access to mental health and social care services during COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Psychology, 74(1), Article 2139196. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2022.2139196

Recommended Citation

Adams, C., Gringart, E., McAullay, D., Sim, M., Scarfe, B., Budrikis, A., & Strobel, N. (2022). Older adults access to mental health and social care services during COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2022.2139196