Seniors are assets, not liabilities
The growing number of seniors and their spending power make them an asset and not a liability as they are too often portrayed, a public forum in Melbourne heard this week.
Michael O’Neill, chief executive of consumer lobby group for the over 50s National Seniors Australia, said there was too much ‘doom and gloom’ surrounding the impact of ageing on the economy and the community.
“What some commentators are largely failing to understand is that the growing numbers of people who are seniors present a huge opportunity for business, for the community and for government,” Mr O’Neill said.
“In a country as wealthy as ours, older Australians should be celebrated for their massive contributions as carers, as volunteers, for the time they devote to civic and social duties and in the workplace – as well as their substantial spending power,” he said.
Instead, according to Mr O’Neill, older Australians are too often “demonised” and regarded as a “burden”.
“They want to contribute to their own retirement and would live without government involvement if it was in their power to do so.
“But governments have to provide certainty in superannuation and investments and not give banks and financial advisers an unfair advantage by reducing consumer protection.”
Mr O’Neill was speaking at the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre’s free public forum today at the State Library of Victoria.
He was one of a line up of leading experts from Alzheimer’s Australia, the Stroke Foundation, beyondblue and other organisations who shared their insights and healthy living tips for the over 50s.
Topics covered included Alzheimer’s disease prevention and support for carers, stroke prevention, depression and anxiety in older people, physical activity for health living, healthy eating and health and employment.
