Talking therapies can help older people come to terms with long-term illness, says Independent Age in a free new advice guide.

The charity has been working with older people, GPs and other health professionals to produce 鈥� which is available now to download.

It has been written specifically for older people to enable them to take control of their lives, but could also be useful for family members, carers and professionals.

Practical tips

The guide offers practical tips on managing to live with a number of health conditions, including how to access talking therapies.

Jeremy Bacon, 香港六合彩精准资料 older people lead, said: 鈥淥ften people with long-term physical health conditions have mental health problems which can make it even harder for them to engage with treatment programmes for their physical health needs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that mental health needs are included in treatment and support for people with long-term physical health problems and that older people are encouraged and supported to access talking therapies.鈥�

The guide states: 鈥淭alking therapies, such as counselling or group therapy, might be suggested if you have a long-term mental health condition, or if another condition is having an impact on your emotional or mental health.鈥�

It adds: 鈥淪ometimes you may be offered information or services at a time when you can鈥檛 take it in. Don鈥檛 feel embarrassed about asking again when you feel more able to absorb information.

鈥淔or example, you might only feel ready to think about support groups or counselling once the shock of a diagnosis has passed or treatment is over.鈥�

Case studies

The guide includes case-studies of older people who have accessed counselling.

One older person says: 鈥淢y wife and I had counselling when my daughter died. To start with I thought, well, do I need counselling, I鈥檓 coping all right? Or I thought I was anyway.

鈥淭hen a close friend of mine died as well and I realised I needed some help, and I found it extremely useful.

鈥淏efore that I鈥檇 probably have dismissed it. So if you do get something like that, it鈥檚 worthwhile going.鈥�

Another older person said: 鈥淚 had cancer and we didn鈥檛 get any counselling afterwards. It was a very difficult time for my wife and family.

鈥淚 think the GP mentioned counselling once, but that was it. It鈥檚 all right being told about it but when you鈥檙e under stress and trauma it doesn鈥檛 go in. It鈥檚 very difficult.鈥�

Lucy Harmer, director of services at Independent Age, said: 鈥淥ur aim is to give older people the assurances to confidently ask the right questions at medical appointments and navigate their way round all the new information they are receiving.鈥�

Free copies of can be downloaded or ordered via Independent Age鈥檚 Helpline on 0800 319 6789.

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