The Silent Mental Health Crisis in Aged Care
by Samantha Freeman | Australian Ageing Agenda | 16th October 2025
There are three simple shifts that can help aged care homes make real progress on mental health, writes Medical and Aged Care Group executive Samantha Freeman.
When people talk about mental health in aged care, the focus often narrows to loneliness or dementia.
These are very real and pressing issues, but they only tell part of the story. Many older Australians also live with depression, anxiety, grief and trauma that remain under-recognised and under-supported, often due to the complexity of these issues and the challenges faced across the aged care and health systems.
Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that close to half of people in residential aged care experience depression. It is a reminder that mental health support needs to be embedded in care models, not treated as an afterthought. These conditions are closely intertwined with physical health. They affect sleep, appetite, engagement in rehabilitation and even pain tolerance.
Just as importantly, they shape the willingness and ability to participate in daily life.
Seeing the bigger picture
In my 34 years working in aged care, 20 of which I’ve spent with Medical and Aged Care Group – I have learned that resilience and hardship often sit side by side. The residents in our homes are people who have raised families, built communities, led careers and lived through social change.
They still carry grief for what they have lost and sometimes trauma that has never been named.
As the baby boomer generation enters care, their expectations and needs will evolve. They will bring more complex health needs, including both physical and mental health concerns – and will look for holistic models of care that take emotional wellbeing seriously to improve their overall quality of life.
The aged care sector needs to be ready for that shift.
When innovation meets heart
Technology is helping to change the way we support mental health in aged care. At MACG we have embraced meaningful innovations that support emotional wellbeing by creating opportunities for joy and connection.
Abi, a companion robot, visits our homes as part of group sessions and one-on-one activities. I have seen residents who were once nonverbal suddenly sing along with Abi or take part in a dance.
Margaret, a resident at Casey Aged Care, once told us she never imagined she would enjoy chatting with a robot, but now finds comfort in her daily conversations with Abi. These are the sparks that open doors to deeper connection and more meaningful care.
TeaTime, a family and community app, has become another powerful tool in our homes to support positive mental health for our residents. Families share everyday updates, photos and videos that keep residents connected to their loved ones. Messages for Good, a channel on the platform, allows volunteers to send notes of encouragement or a photo that brightens someone’s day. For residents who do not have regular visitors, it can make all the difference in fostering a sense of connection and belonging.
Our partnerships also extend to SilVR, which offers immersive experiences that transport residents to familiar places or new adventures, and Ciao, which facilitates social activities and builds friendships.
These collaborations remind us that innovation is not about replacing human care, but deepening emotional connections and ensuring no resident feels alone.
The real value of these innovations lies in how they create space for staff to follow up with warmth, conversation and support. Technology on its own cannot solve mental health issues, but used thoughtfully it can unlock moments of joy that help people feel seen and valued.
Supporting the people who care
Equally important is investing in training that equips frontline staff to recognise, respond to and support residents’ mental health needs. Building this literacy is essential, because nurses, carers and lifestyle teams are often the first to notice subtle changes in mood, appetite or engagement.
The relationships that staff build with residents lie at the heart of aged care and play a vital role in supporting mental health. A conversation, a familiar song or a shared story can do more to lift spirits than any program or checklist. When staff are confident in how to approach mental health, those everyday interactions become powerful moments of support.
I have always believed that the people who come into this work do so because they want to change lives. Those who stay in the industry are here for the right reasons and what sustains them are the relationships they build every day. Our role as providers is to give them the skills and support to keep doing this deeply human and important work.
Simple shifts that make a difference
In my experience, three simple shifts can help aged care homes make real progress on mental health.
- Make it part of daily practice. Include mental health checks alongside physical assessments and revisit them regularly
- Equip every role. Train staff to spot signs of depression and anxiety, to have supportive conversations, and to know when to escalate.
- Choose technology with purpose. Use tools that create more opportunities for human connection rather than replacing them.
A call for change
For us, mental health is not only about clinical care. It is about human connection, which sits at the heart of everything we do at MACG. Mental Health Month challenges us all to widen the lens and treat emotional wellbeing as essential, not optional. When we do, residents, families and staff all benefit from stronger connections and better outcomes.
Samantha Freeman is general manager of brand and resident experience at Medical and Aged Care Group – which has 11 aged care homes in Victoria, more than 850 residents and a team of 1,200 staff.
This article is republished from Australian Ageing Agenda