The report, Older People and Wellbeing, estimates that 2.4 million older people have depression. This impairs their quality of life.

The report highlights that older people's mental health and wellbeing has been severely neglected. However, the focus of many new policies and debate is still on young people's health and wellbeing.

Lizzie McLennan, Senior Policy Officer at Help the Aged, says:

'Mental health in older people has for too long been a secondary concern, acting as the ‘poor relation’ to other physical health problems or mental health problems in younger people.

'Quality of life, dignity and personal well-being must always be the focus of the care and support someone receives.  Social care needs to focus on outcomes – people may receive care which meets their physical needs, but their emotional and mental wellbeing are too often overlooked completely.'

The report found a strong association between levels of deprivation amongst older people and poor emotional wellbeing. Pensioner poverty has reduced overall since 1997 but latest figures show that 2.5 million people over 65 were living in poverty. This is 300,000 more than the previous year.

Another reason for low wellbeing in older people is the number of older people living alone. Of those living alone, 17 per cent rated themselves as ‘often/always lonely’ compared with two per cent living with others. 80 per cent of the ‘often lonely’ lived alone. 

Says Lizzi McLennan: 'Given the strong link between emotional wellbeing and loneliness, it’s incredibly important that local communities have services for older people that go beyond social care.  Older people, like people of all ages, need to be able to take part in activities and meet new people.'