Aging and Mental Health: How to Manage The Impact Of Aging On Mental Health

As we age, we navigate different sets of challenges. From childhood, through to adolescence, adulthood (potentially parenthood and menopause), and into older age, each stage can be fraught with difficulties and rewards. And each can set different traps for our mental health. 

Keeping busy and engaged in regular tasks is useful to maintain physical and mental well-being. Older people often continue to help their families once they have retired, aiding with childcare, looking after the house, and for some, continuing their own jobs, or volunteering with charities.¹

However, while a decline in mental health is not an inevitability, some people may experience issues like anxiety, social isolation, identity issues, and increased stress. If you or someone you know is experiencing poorer mental health as you age, a mental health professional is well-placed to help you come to terms with change while maintaining a strong sense of self. 

This article can also help you better understand the link between aging and mental health – and outlines some tips to help you maintain good mental health.

Aging: An Overview of What to Expect

Aging comes with a variety of changes – both good and bad. However, physically, we’re all affected in some way. Many factors influence how we age, such as genetics, lifestyle, and experiences. So we tend to age in unique ways and at different rates. 

However, as aging and mental health are connected, it’s important to consider the physical and cognitive impacts and how these connect to mental well-being. 

Physical Health in Older Age

As we get older, physical health, unfortunately, tends to get worse. Many older people deal with mobility issues, pain, frailty, and dementia.² Issues like these can make someone less able to do things they enjoy, which may make them feel down.³ So, as a result of declining physical health, people often tend to feel more anxious and lose confidence. 

Additionally, someone might experience a few different physical conditions that require them to take several different medicines. In fact, about one in three people over the age of 65 takes at least five regular medications every day.⁴ 

Taking several different pills increases the chances you’ll experience side effects.⁵ It also raises the possibility of a mistake – either of taking the wrong dose, or using a drug that interacts with something else they might take.⁵ Mistakes like these can pose serious health consequences. 

If you’re prescribed a new medication, you could ask your healthcare professional if there are signs to look out for that could mean it’s not working as it should. Further, if you’re already taking several other medicines and are concerned about interactions, it’s also important to raise these concerns with your doctor. 

Cognitive Decline and Aging

It’s normal to expect a small decline in memory and thinking as we age. We might forget the odd item on a grocery list or a phone number, for example. Yet older people are all too often shown as having a serious decline in mental functioning in the media. It’s important not to take these depictions seriously or let them influence your self-identity.¹

Mild cognitive impairment is not part of normal ageing. This level of impairment is considered cognitive decline, and can impact memory, but only affects between 5 and 20% of people over 65. It can also be screened for. Additionally, dementia is not a typical sign of aging, affecting only 7% of people over the age 65.⁶

In light of how aging can impact our physical health and cognitive ability, let’s next consider how it can affect our mental health. 

How Does Aging Affect Mental Health?

Aging and mental health don’t look the same for all of us. Each of us is unique, with different physical and mental responses to change. In other words, mental health challenges are not inevitable with age. But many of us will encounter them for various reasons. 

Before we discuss how aging affects mental health, it’s important to acknowledge that poor mental health in old age is not a normal part of ageing.³ 

About 14% of people over the age of 70 live with a mental health condition, most often depression or anxiety.² This means that more than 80% of people over 70 do not have a diagnosed mental health condition. However, mental health conditions often go undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated in older adults.⁷

So if you suspect that you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health challenge, it’s important to reach out for professional advice and support. 

To help increase understanding of aging and mental health, the following sections explore factors that could possibly impact mental health in older adults.

Life Events Can Influence Mental Health

Everyone is affected by the world around them, and older people are no exception. Previous stress or trauma can have a negative impact on your mental health as you age.⁸ 

Anxiety in aging can be caused by stress, for instance, bereavement, money worries, physical health problems, or medication side-effects, to name a few.⁹

Some factors that are more likely to affect this age group include:³

• Retirement: Unless you transition slowly to retirement, the sudden change in routine can be a shock. It can help to take time to consider what you’d like to do with your time when you retire.
• Money: Retiring means you’re not bringing in as much money as you’re used to. This can lead to anxiety and issues with sleeping. It’s a good idea to seek help proactively if you’re concerned.
• Caring responsibilities: Caring for loved ones, while rewarding, can sometimes leave you feeling tired and frustrated. It’s crucial to take a break when you find things too much, and to reach out for help when you need it.
• Bereavement: No one wants to think about losing a loved one, so it’s not a surprise that grief can bring on a host of negative emotions. Grief takes time, but you should seek help if you consistently find it hard to cope after a loss.

Changes Can Affect Self-Identity

A change to self-identity happens when you experience a shift in how you see yourself.¹⁰ Unfortunately, the transition into older age can bring a change in what our day-to-day life looks like, especially if we’re no longer working. And, for many people, what they do for a living helps define them. 

It’s often one of the first things people say when they’re asked to introduce themselves. So when it is taken away, it’s no wonder someone may question their sense of self. 

Plus, when we retire, we may not speak to as many people each day or mentally challenge ourselves as much as we did during our job. So, while it’s nice to take a break from work, when it’s long-term, it might lead to a changed sense of self-identity, reduced self-worth, and social isolation. These issues can all impact mental health. 

Social Isolation and Loneliness Can Become More Common

Older people are at higher risk of loneliness and social isolation because of poor health, loss of a spouse, or caring responsibilities.¹ Around one in four older people experience loneliness, and this puts these people at risk of other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.^1,2 

Additionally, people who are socially isolated often have a more sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to other physical problems such as cardiovascular disease.¹

Aging and Mental Health: It’s Not All Negative

While it might seem like it up to this point in this article, how aging affects mental health is not all negative. 

Healthy ageing is linked with resilience – that ability to bounce back and adapt after something bad has happened.¹ It’s also associated with increased wisdom, including better self-reflection skills and prosocial behaviors such as compassion and being able to accept uncertainty.

Together, these factors are linked with positive outcomes, general life satisfaction, and reduced loneliness. And they seem to peak in the seventh decade of life – so there may be plenty to be grateful for.¹

Maintaining Emotional Well-Being While Aging

You can look after your mental health at any point in your life. Being aware of how you’re feeling, tracking any worrying signs, and talking to someone when the first signs of mental health issues arise are all positive ways of preventing things from getting worse. 

Additionally, below are some tips and tricks that, as you age, can help you stay… you:^11-14

• Stick to your routine – if it works for you, don’t change it
• Keep to your eating and sleeping routines (and get some morning sun to help to regulate sleep cycles)
• Spend quality time with family members doing fun activities
• Look after your health – eat well and regularly, hydrate (remember you need more water than you think), and exercise (as little as 11 minutes per day is beneficial).¹⁵ You could also practice relaxation techniques if you feel you need them, like meditation or tai chi, for instance, or explore something more spiritual. Also, take any medications you need as directed
• Engage in activities that mentally challenge you. For instance, you could try puzzles, strategy, or memory games. Or you may choose to learn new skills or languages
• Volunteer a few hours a week for a charity or a local cause that inspires you
• Talk to family and friends regularly, and forge new social links

While each of these tips can help you maintain mental health, if you’ve noticed a steady, consistent decline, remember that early intervention is key – but support at any stage matters. Your golden years should be a time of peace and contentment, so you deserve good mental well-being. 

A mental health professional can help you navigate any of the changes that come with aging in ways that respect your individuality and experiences. 

Mission Connection: Support for Aging Adults

Getting older comes with ups and downs. But going through difficult times is nothing to be ashamed of. Coping with life transitions in older age is possible, and it often starts with being honest with yourself and your loved ones about how you’re feeling. Mental health problems can be easy to miss, but catching them early can improve your prognosis.

Mission Connection is here to help if you’re finding mental health and aging difficult to cope with. We offer a variety of specialized evidence-based mental health therapies that can support the mind and body, helping you to breathe a little easier. 

Reach out to our team today if you’re ready to start supporting your mental health. Relief often starts with a simple phonecall.

References

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2. World Health Organization. (October 2025). Mental health of older adults. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults.
3. Age UK. (April 2024). It’s not just your age. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/mind-body/mental-wellbeing/its-not-just-your-age/
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11. Inter-Agency Standing Committee. (March 2021). Living with the times, a mental health and psychosocial support toolkit for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-reference-group-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings/living-times-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-toolkit-older-adults-during-covid-19-pandemic
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