Aging & caregiving
Mental health support for older adults, and for the people caring for them.
What it is
Aging brings its own mental health considerations — depression and anxiety in older adults are often missed because they're mistaken for a normal part of getting older, or masked by physical health concerns. Caring for an aging parent or partner carries its own, separate toll.
Good to know
Depression in older adults is not a normal or expected part of aging — it's treatable at any age, and persistent low mood or withdrawal deserves the same attention it would at 30.
What helps
For older adults, care that accounts for physical health alongside mental health tends to work best — NL's Geriatric Psychiatry Assessment Unit exists for exactly this overlap. For caregivers, a dedicated support line and respite options help prevent the caregiver's own health from becoming a second, hidden problem.
When to seek help
For an older adult: persistent low mood, withdrawal, or confusion deserves assessment, not assumption. For a caregiver: reach out to Caregivers NL before burnout sets in, not after.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you're in crisis, go to Get Help Now instead of reading further.