'I'd say go for it': Receiving an autism diagnosis in later life.

This case study focuses on the experience of a 66-year-old man, William, who received a late-life autism diagnosis through a pilot autism assessment pathway developed within an older adult community mental health team in Northeast England. The pathway aimed to provide timely, multidisciplinary autism assessments tailored to older adults, addressing barriers such as long waiting times, limited age-appropriate tools, and diagnostic overshadowing by existing mental health conditions. William's diagnosis, following a history of bipolar disorder, helped clarify his lifelong social communication differences, sensory sensitivities, and routines, leading to more personalized care and medication review. The study highlights the importance of pre- and post-diagnostic counselling, family involvement, and age-inclusive assessment adaptations, while noting challenges like limited validated tools for older adults and the emotional complexity of late diagnosis. It underscores the value of maintaining diagnostic curiosity about autism across the lifespan to improve understanding and support within older adult mental health services.