Australian Unity Wellbeing Index

Australian Unity has released its latest Wellbeing Index, which warns that one fifth of Australians are at risk of depression because they feel uncertain about their future income security. Income security has a bigger impact on people with household incomes of less than $30,000.

The fifth Wellbeing Report has compiled the most interesting findings from the first five years of research. It reported that: “The provision of home-based caring places the adult members of the household under immense strain. These adults require further assistance if they are to achieve normal levels of wellbeing. Such households may also represent a substantial hidden cost to the community. Adults who are at risk of depression may, as a group, place high demands on medical and support services.”

It also commented that satisfaction with health persists into old age. “This occurs despite the fact that compared to their younger selves, all of these people would have substantially reduced physical health. Many will have significant medical conditions and reduced mobility. This shows the power of adaption and highlights that medical health is not necessarily required for people to have a normal sense of well-being.”

However, it also showed that males experience a marked deterioration in their health satisfaction after the age of 75 years.