Discussion paper
An older Australia: Identifying areas for local government action
Identifying opportunities and challenges
There are many emerging issues that could be attributed to the economic and social implications of an ageing Australia: What are the key opportunities and challenges that require a local government response?
This section of the paper acts as a starting point for discussion through the identification of a broad range of issues. This list is not exhaustive and consideration should also be given to other issues that could be identified as an area of action by local government.
Attitudes
Positive attitudes to ageing and older people are essential in promoting inclusiveness and integration within the community. However, attitudes towards older people are not always positive, and are often based on stereotypical images. Population ageing presents opportunities to value maturity and experience.
Aged care services
The provision of high quality, affordable and accessible aged care services will be critical in caring for the growing number of older people. While the majority of older people are, and perceive themselves as being, in good health, they want to be able to access affordable and quality aged care services, that are located close to family, should the need arise. It will be important, as the population ages, to focus on establishing an appropriate balance of aged care services within the community, support for carers and create better links between aged and health care services.
Cultural diversity
Australia's culturally and linguistically diverse population is changing, with the proportion of older people who come from non-English speaking countries expected to rise more sharply than those born in Australia. In 2001, the main countries of birth for non-English speaking older people were Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. For future generations this composition will reflect the increase in migration from Asia that has occurred since the 1970s. As older people from diverse backgrounds age, being able to communicate in their native language becomes increasingly important.
Disabilities
The ageing population will include a higher percentage of people with disabilities who, due to skilled care and improved technologies, will live much longer than in previous generations. The consequences of age disabilities can be alleviated through mechanisms such as supportive environments and creating barrier-free designs.
Economic Development
The changing needs of older people and the changing locations of ageing will have a major effect, not only on investment but also on local economies and demand for services. As such, encouragement of employment opportunities and enterprise creation, which older people can contribute to and benefit from, will be important to local communities as the Australian population ages.
Finance
An ageing population is expected to have a major impact on local government revenue and expenditure. Preliminary analysis indicates that there will be growing fiscal pressure on local government finances, with significant pressure on many specific local governments, particularly in regional and rural areas. The impact on local government will be two-fold.
On the one hand, local government face potentially significant demands on revenue because of limited revenue raising capacities and the potential for the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to use ageing-related stresses on their budgets to reduce financial assistance and grants.
On the other hand, impact will be felt on expenditure in a number of areas of local government responsibility including: health and aged care; provision of services; and infrastructure. The growing pressures will not only come from the public, but also from other spheres of government as the pressures of cost-shifting continues.
It is expected that population ageing will also increase the proportion of the population likely to have entitlements to a Pensioner Concession Card. The obvious result of an increase in older people entitled to the card, coupled with a decrease in the group who pay full rates, is a drop in revenue. The Commonwealth's Intergenerational Report suggests that an increased proportion of retired people with higher superannuation incomes may offset this, but to what extent is unclear.
Housing
The availability of affordable, accessible and suitable housing options is particularly important for older people, and will be a priority as the Australian population ages. The changing age profile, along with lifestyle and work patterns changes, will impact on future housing arrangements. It will, therefore be important to provide flexible models of accommodation, encompassing a wide range of settings, while at the same time fostering supportive environments and independence.
Health promotion
Health promotion is vital for encouraging healthy ageing, as it not only improves the health of the community, but also has the potential to reduce the health and care costs of older people. Health promotion activities aimed at older people encourage them to exercise regularly, eat well, develop and maintain social networks and access activities in their local community. The increased promotion of health education, campaigns and programs which are targeted and appropriate for older people, will be important as Australia's population continues to age.
Indigenous
Indigenous Australians are considerably younger than the non-indigenous population. Only 2.8 per cent of indigenous Australians are over the age of 65 years compared with 13.0 per cent of the total population. This difference in age structure reflects the significant disadvantages faced by indigenous Australians - notably higher mortality and a lower life expectancy.
Information and communication technology
Developments in information and communication technology will provide the opportunity for increased participation by older people in the community. Older people are already using the Internet to pursue a variety of educational and recreational interests. However, older people will need continued support in the up-take of such technologies.
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is a key enabler for increased participation in the community. Nurturing a culture of lifelong learning will encourage older people to seek out new opportunities to be stimulated and challenged. Strategies to support lifelong learning will be fundamental to ensuring that the older population is equipped to participate in the community.
Participation
Older people embody valuable skills, experience, knowledge and wisdom that can benefit the community by adding value to local services. In particular, older people make a major contribution to local communities by being involved in voluntary work. However, barriers exist that make it increasingly difficult for older people to participate in the local community as volunteers. Appropriate strategies will be required to ensure older people become or remain active in the community.
Planning and development
Planning and development of a wide range of facilities can have a significant impact on the quality of life of older people and can influence the way older people enjoy and participate in their local community. However impediments exist in the current planning and development process with regard to age-friendly infrastructure, in particular, the timely completion of aged care facilities. The development of age-friendly infrastructure will be essential if older people are allowed to remain active and independent. The planning, designing and building of environments for older people, in both the public and private domain, will need to be considered at all stages of the planning process.
Regional diversity
Australia's older population is not evenly distributed and the projected rate of growth is expected to differ between regions. For instance, population ageing is occurring more strongly in regional areas of Australia than in metropolitan areas, as many regional areas attract retirees and experience an out-migration of young adults. This has substantial implications for the provision of, and distribution of funding for, public services such as health services, home help, transport and housing.
Tourism, recreation and leisure
Recreation and leisure activities are an important way for older people to remain active, to mix socially, and engage in the community. Retirement provides people with the time to pursue recreational leisure and tourism activities. Suitable strategies will be required to ensure older people have access to tourism, recreation and leisure activities enabling them to remain active and participate in the community.
Transport
Access to public, private and community-based transport is essential for older people. Transport enables older people to access services, family and friends and also community activities. As the population ages, there will be an expected increase in the use of the transport system. As a result, transport options will need to meet the diverse needs of older people, especially in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Women
Women have differing lifestyle circumstances to men, which impact upon them in older age. Women make up a greater proportion of the older population and this imbalance increases with age. In 2001, approximately 56 percent of people over 65 years were women, and 69 percent for women aged over 85 years. This difference is important as it highlights that woman are more likely to approach older age in a vulnerable financial position, to live alone, or have specific health needs.
