Ageing baby boomers to say “no” to big institutions

Australia’s baby boomers will revolt, if large institutions are the only option available to them in 15-20 years time, according to international expert on aged accommodation, Dr Hans Becker.

“Dutch older people said “no” 15 years ago to old style nursing homes and hostels, as the only alternatives for when they get to the age they want help to do the things they can’t do on their own,” said Dr Becker, who pioneered a successful housing and care scheme for older people called ‘Apartments for Life in Holland’ in the mid 1990s.

“That push-back was from people in their 70s and 80s, and some much younger, demanding they be able to go on living independently and stay part of their long time community, when their health declined and they could no longer get around as they used to.

“And so our ‘Apartments for Life’ scheme was born…it has been snowballing ever since, with more and more ageing baby boomers saying this is what we want for our parents, and one day for ourselves.

“I think the same will happen here in Australia.”

The Humanitas Foundation started its ‘Apartments for Life’ program with 350 apartments in three complexes in 1995; it now has 13 complexes holding 1,700 apartments, covering some 2,550 residents.

Dr Becker is the chair of the Humanitas Foundation, which introduced and manages the ‘Apartments for Life’ program in Rotterdam.

He was in Australia as a guest of The Benevolent Society.

The Federal and NSW governments have taken a keen interest in the ‘Apartments for Life’ model as offering greater choice for older people and, importantly, the potential for considerable savings in the aged care budget. 

The Benevolent Society, Australia’s oldest charity, is planning to introduce Australia’s first ‘Apartments for Life’ complex in Bondi.

Forty per cent of the apartments will be dedicated to pensioners and low-income tenants.