Autism in midlife and older age – enhancing clinical understanding and practice

Autism in midlife and older age – enhancing clinical understanding and practice

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) hosted a webinar to strengthen national efforts to better recognise, understand, and support older autistic people across health and social care services.

The Autism in Midlife and Older Age: An Introduction to Profiles and Clinical Considerations for Diagnosis and Support webinar supports the NES Autism and Neurodevelopmental Operational Plan. And is in line with key priorities and frameworks set out by the Scottish Government, including:

• The Scottish Strategy for Autism (2011) and its 2017 Updated Priorities, which emphasise improving diagnostic access and lifelong support
• The National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People (2021), which promotes consistent, coordinated, and needs-based support for neurodivergent people across all ages
• Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy (2021–2025), which reinforces the need for inclusive, age-appropriate care and support

Why It Matters

Many older autistic adults are not diagnosed properly or given the support they need. This can make it harder for them to access the right care across mental health, community, and dementia services. The webinar addressed that gap by equipping clinicians with practical tools for:

• assessment
• diagnosis
• support after diagnosis

This will help services respond more effectively to the needs of older autistic people.

Reach and Engagement

The session attracted strong interest, with:

• over 480 people registered
• nearly 250 in attendance
• an additional 400 people have requested access to the recording

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• 97.1% felt the content was pitched appropriately
• 92.9% found the pace about right
• 80% strongly agreed the session was useful and would recommend it to others

What Participants Valued Most

Attendees highlighted several key takeaways that made the session highly impactful:

• Evidence-Based Insights: the session shared research, particularly around underdiagnosis in later life, co-occurring conditions, and the evolving understanding of autism in older adults
• Clinical Relevance: practical strategies for assessment, formulation, and support were described as immediately applicable, particularly in inpatient and dementia care settings
• Lived Experience: Personal stories helped deepen understanding and reinforced the importance of considering individual perspectives in care planning
• Reflective Practice: many said the session encouraged them to reflect on current practices and improve how they identify and support undiagnosed autistic individuals.
• Resources and Tools: participants welcomed access to further reading, diagnostic checklists, and engagement strategies they could use in their own services

Strategic Impact

This webinar supports NES’s commitment to equip health and care professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver informed, person-centred care to autistic people at all stages of life. It reflects growing awareness of the needs of older autistic people and offers practical steps to reduce inequalities in health and care.

Access to Resources

A recording of the webinar is available on Turas Learn . Additional resources, including further reading and tools, can be found on the NES Autism Resources page.

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