Mind over matter

The mental wellbeing of the older generation has never been more important, but thankfully our care homes and retirement villages are stepping up to the challenge

- Ellie Fells

There was once a time where mental health issues such as loneliness and dementia among those in later life were simply seen as part of the aging process. However, in recent years we’ve seen a gradual shift in attitudes: now, both the mental wellbeing of the older generation and their physical wellbeing are being treated as paramount. This is especially important in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, which has made the news for having a devastating impact in some care homes. We’re now seeing big steps being taken in the retirement sector to keep the mind and body fit and healthy as we get older.

This shift in attitudes is most clearly reflected in the evolution of our care homes and retirement housing. This really began at the end of World War Two, with the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) and the 1948 National Assistance Act, which placed a duty on local authorities to provide residential accommodation for those in need of care.