Ageing at home: ‘far fetched’ reality?
The desire for older Australians to ‘age in place’ may be a far fetched reality with new research revealing this week that many Australian dwellings are unsuitable for ageing at home. Two in three people aged over 50 years intend to remain in their home as they age.
The desire for older Australians to ‘age in place’ may be a far fetched reality with new research revealing this week that many Australian dwellings are unsuitable for ageing at home.
Two in three people aged over 50 years intend to remain in their home as they age, however 36% live in a home that does not have design features suitable for elderly people.
The most common changes needed to people’s homes were hand rails (65%), toilet/bath/laundry modifications (57%) and ramps (51%).
Around 29% of mature age people say they will not be able to afford the changes required to make their home more age friendly.
Although ageing in the community is strongly preferred by older Australians, previous research indicates that about 28% of males and 46% of females will be admitted to residential care at some point after the age of 65.
The findings were contained in the report Where Will I Live as I Age, a joint venture by the National Seniors Australia and Group Homes Australia.
“These findings suggest there is a significant disconnect between the stated desire of many Australians to age in their own home and their actual ability to do so,” National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said.
“Research in this field is vital. Enabling people to age at home will help offset the increasing aged care costs associated with population ageing.”
Although maintaining independence is a key priority for older Australians, only 38% of over 50s have taken steps to prepare themselves for frailty and getting older.
When considering higher care needs, just one in four respondents believed they could afford the costs of aged care; and 40% simply did not know whether they could afford aged care costs in the future.
Fewer than 80% of older Australians strongly support a co-contribution model for funding aged care in Australia – one that is means tested with a contribution on behalf of the person receiving care.
View the Where Will I Live as I Age report.
