According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a critical yet frequently neglected component of healthy ageing. Nearly 14% of adults aged 70 and above live with a mental health condition, with depression, anxiety, and dementia being among the most common. Older adults face heightened vulnerability due to factors such as social isolation, loneliness, declining physical health, loss of income, bereavement, and, in some cases, neglect or abuse. Despite this, mental health conditions in later life often remain under-diagnosed and untreated because of stigma, limited access to care, and the misconception that emotional distress is a normal part of ageing.
Mental health difficulties in older age are frequently overlooked because changes in mood, behavior, or cognition are easily mistaken for ordinary signs of growing old. These challenges may appear as persistent sadness, irritability, withdrawal from social activities, difficulties with memory or concentration, disrupted sleep or appetite, ongoing fatigue, unexplained physical discomfort, heightened fear or anxiety, or increasing reliance on alcohol or medication. Such signs should not be dismissed as inevitable aspects of ageing. Older adults can and do experience mental health conditions, and failing to recognise them early can lead to a decline in both emotional and physical well-being.
Early recognition and timely support play a vital role in protecting the dignity, independence, and quality of life of senior citizens. Attentive families with open and compassionate conversations and access to professional care can make a significant difference in preventing mental health concerns from worsening. Supporting the mental well-being of older adults is not about reversing ageing, but about ensuring that later life is lived with care, respect, and emotional security.
According to Susmriti Tamang, Program Head at Bihani, who has been working for almost 14 years in geriatric health, depression, anxiety, dementia, and loneliness are the most common mental health issues affecting senior citizens today, often linked to chronic illness, loss of independence, migration of family members, and social isolation. These conditions are frequently overlooked or mistaken for normal aging, as symptoms such as forgetfulness, sadness, sleep problems, or low energy are culturally accepted as part of growing old. Limited awareness of geriatric mental health, strong stigma, and a health system focused mainly on physical illness further contribute to under-diagnosis and neglect.
She further explains that loneliness and changing family structures have significantly weakened psycho-social support for older adults. As traditional family systems decline, many seniors are left without regular emotional care, leading to feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and depression. To address this, she emphasises on focusing on rebuilding social connection through community engagement, befriending, group activities, and mindfulness-based support, helping older adults feel valued and emotionally supported.
Early warning signs such as social withdrawal, mood changes, confusion, sleep disturbances, and loss of interest in daily life are often missed, she notes, partly due to poor awareness of geriatric mental health care. Families need basic knowledge to distinguish normal aging from mental health concerns and seek timely professional help. At the same time, major gaps remain in services for older adults, with mental health in later life rarely planned for and stigma discouraging families from using day care or support centers for seniors.
Related Article:
Improving senior mental health, she stresses, requires action at all levels—families must foster open communication, communities should create inclusive spaces for social engagement, and policies must expand geriatric-friendly mental health services and social protection. Aging affects everyone, and ensuring dignity, inclusion, and mental well-being in later life is essential.
A comparative analysis of elder abuse data from Ageing Nepal (availed by Aawaaj News & Research) and Nepal Police shows a decline in reported cases between 2024 and 2025 but reveals little change in the underlying pattern of abuse. In 2024, 535 cases of elder abuse were recorded, compared to 359 cases in 2025, representing a 33 percent decrease. Despite the drop, abuse through neglecting elders remained the most widespread form of abuse in both years, accounting for 483 cases in 2024 and 328 cases in 2025, or more than 90 percent of all reported incidents.
Other forms of abuse were reported in far smaller numbers. Physical abuse cases declined from 29 in 2024 to 14 in 2025, while financial abuse fell slightly from 17 to 14 cases. Psychological and sexual abuse continued to be reported only in limited numbers, a trend that experts say likely reflects under-reporting driven by stigma, fear, and older adults’ dependence on family members and caregivers. Monthly data for both years show noticeable fluctuations, with higher reporting during mid-year months, suggesting periods of increased vulnerability for senior citizens.
The decline in reported cases in 2025 does not necessarily indicate improved safety or care for older people. Instead, the continued dominance of abuse through neglect points to deeper structural challenges, including weakening family support systems, the migration of younger family members, economic pressures, and limited access to community-based and geriatric care services.
According to HelpAge International, officially reported data from Nepal show that 1,068 older people experienced violent abuse between 2012 and 2017, including 691 men and 377 women, with an alarming 800 deaths recorded among these cases. However, elder abuse remains severely underreported. A UN estimate cited by HelpAge suggests that only 1 in 24 cases is reported globally, implying that the actual number of elder abuse cases in Nepal during this period could exceed 25,000, or over 4,000 cases annually.