The ThirdAgeTx solution: optimising the mental health of older people
ThirdAgeTx is a highly effective solution for older people who are at risk of depression, anxiety and loneliness. This is between one third and half of retired people. It works especially well for older people who are isolated or who have long-term health problems.
Designed in partnership with older people
Our ThirdAgeTx solution has been 20 years in the making. It is designed by some of the the world’s leading psychological scientists, working in partnership with older people who are 'experts by experience'.
We call this co-production.
ThirdAgeTx has been shown to be effective for use in the NHS. We will now make this more widely available in the UK and across the world.
Telehealth - weekly sessions with your expert
When people access Third Age Therapy they speak with one of our trained coaches on a weekly basis. Contact happens over the telephone. During sessions we work together to build a personalised action plan; targeting mood and activating social networks.
This sounds simple, but it based on a highly structured and evidence-based approach – known as behavioural activation. This is an evidence-based treatment programme that has been proven to work.
An evidence based approach
We developed Third Age Therapy over a number of years using £2.6 million R&D investment from the NHS.
The ThirdAgeTx package is perhaps the most evidence based system of care for older people. For many people it is a good alternative to drugs such as antidepressants. It also works by preventing problems - such as anxiety and depression - before they become entrenched.
ThirdAgeTx increases the options for older people who want to optimise their psychological health and deal with problems before they spiral out of control. Tackling loneliness is good for people's overall health and promotes independent living.
Accessible and high quality
The delivery of Third Age Therapy has been optimised in some of the largest clinical trials ever undertaken. Therapy is delivered over the telephone.
Telehealthcare works brilliantly for older people and means they can access high quality psychological care in their homes and at a time that suits.
Our system is supported by a leading NHS patient care system – known as PC-MIS. Together we track your psychological health to ensure progress. This is a scientifically proven strategy.
Improvement within weeks
The benefits from ThirdAgeTx tend to emerge very quickly – with improvements in mood, better social networks and reduced levels of loneliness. People become less anxious and more active. They start to take control of their lives. Unlike apps for mental health, older people stay with the programme, with very high levels of satisfaction and engagement.
People make lasting changes to their daily routine and social connections. The benefits persist long after the programme has completed.
...with long lasting impacts
Eight out of ten people report lasting improvements in their mental health at three months.
Others might need to access more care in the future to help stay well after the planned sessions are complete.
We can design an individualised package of care and there are options to stay with the programme beyond eight weeks.
Funded by NIHR
Featured in Forbes
Published in The Lancet
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