Challenges Faced by the Ageing Population in Australia and How to Deal with Them - Essay Example

Report on ageing, challenges faced by the ageing population in Australia and how to deal with them Executive summary There is a growing number of ageing individuals across the world, Australia included, and this presents economic, social and cultural challenges to the rest of the society. The purpose of this report is to discuss the challenges associated with the growing population of ageing persons and to recommend measures to address these challenges. The first section of the report presents information about the ageing population across the world and the trends in Australia, as well as the related challenges such as ageism, social exclusion, and abuse. The second section addresses the reasons why the ageing population in Australia faces challenges and notes that the challenges stem from the perception that aged people are a financial burden and the negative attitudes toward this age group. The third section is about the impacts of these challenges and identifies financial problems and social exclusion as issues that make older people vulnerable. Two recommendations have been suggested to deal with the challenges. First is that all stakeholders must recognise the inevitability of growing older so as to prepare for the phenomenon and avoid negative perceptions toward the elderly. The second recommendation is that the government and other stakeholders should develop and implement social investments to address the financial and healthcare needs of the elderly and hence make the older people independent. Ageing Population: The Facts The world currently faces the reality of an increasing ageing population. According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2012), one in every nine people in the world is of the age of 60 years or over, and this number is projected to increase to one person in every five by the year 2050. In Australia, the ageing population was about 13 per cent of the country’s total population by 2004 (Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) 2004, p. 1). The number of people of the age of 65 years and above was forecasted to rise to 27-30 per cent by the year 2051 (CEDA 2004, p. 1). In the short-term, it is projected that there will be about four million people within the age bracket of 65-84 years by 2022. Further, a sharp increase in the number of people falling in this age group is expected to occur in the next ten years (Catholic Community Services 2014). Increasing longevity is a positive achievement for humanity worth celebrating because long life expectancy is an embodiment of a prosperous society as well as an efficient health system (Healy 2004, p. 5). However, with the opportunities arising from increased longevity, there are significant challenges. The ageing population presents economic, social and cultural challenges to families, individuals, societies as well as the whole world. For instance, the aged people face ageism or stereotyping and discrimination against them, social exclusion, and abuse among other issues (Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) 2013, p. 3; Catholic Community Services 2014). An older population also means that there are likely to be more individuals living with illnesses and disabilities, since health concerns generally increase as people grow older (Catholic Community Services 2014). Why the ageing population in Australia faces challenges The challenges mentioned above arise because of viewing the aged people as a financial burden and negative attitudes associated with this age group. To start with, ageism, which is the practice of stereotyping and discriminating against individuals because they are elderly, has been common in Australia. The Australian society often lumps older people together or deems them to be the same because of their age (AASW 2013, p. 7). This leads to failure to adequately consider the different needs of older individuals in the planning of social services and public facilities like transport (AASW 2013, p. 8). Social segregation of the ageing population is exhibited in the form of older individuals being isolated from access to various types of services, having to live alone in rural and remote areas, family members moving away, or being sidelined because of chronic illness (AASW 2013, p. 8). This isolation occurs either by nature, for instance through the loss of a partner, or through the perceptions that the society has toward the aged people. Abuse of the elderly occurs because some aged people cannot do some things on their own and therefore need help from other member of the society. Some people take advantage of this to abuse the elderly physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially or sexually (AASW 2013, p. 8). This may occur in older care facilities, at home, in hospitals or other places. Impacts of the challenges There are many impacts of the challenges arising from the increasing ageing population. To begin with, financial security is one major concern as people grow older since they may not have reliable sources of income (UNFPA 2012, p. 29). In particular, there are concerns in Australia that many baby boomers have insufficient income since the compulsory superannuation scheme was introduced belatedly; hence, they did not benefit (Lui et al. 2011, p. 272). In many countries, it is usually assumed that the aged person’s family will take care of their economic needs. But while some families are able to support their aged relatives, others are not in a good position to do so while at the same time taking care of their own situations. Older people who do not have family support are therefore particularly vulnerable (UNFPA 2012, p. 29). This makes it difficult for the aged population to have access to items and amenities such as proper nutrition, proper housing, medical care, transport, clothing, and transportation. Also, because of social exclusion, the elderly cannot participate in the activities or services in which other people in the society are involved (Baptcare 2013, p. 2). For example, in 2011, the Productivity Commission of Australia noted that some aged care providers were exhibiting reluctance to offer help to aged people whose care requirements were not adequately financed or who showed challenging behaviours (Baptcare 2013, p. 3). As well, some older people are left alone in homes or in aged care facilities and consequently lack social contact and support from friends and family members (Waterhouse & Angley 2005, p. 7). Recommendations: How the ageing population can be helped to overcome the challenges Based on the challenges that have been noted above, the following recommendations are suggested to address them: As noted by UNFPA (2012, p. 164), there is need to recognise the inevitability of growing older as well as the need to adequately prepare all stakeholders (families, communities, civil society, governments and private sector) for the increasing number of older individuals. When the society is well informed about the existence of older people, this will help reduce ageism, social exclusion, and abuse of the older persons. In addition, more people will be informed of the need to prepare well for the old age by enrolling in pension and medical schemes, which can help in managing their financial and health needs. As well, a more informed public is likely to be more responsive to the needs of the elderly. There is need for the government and other stakeholders to develop and implement social protection avenues as well as social investments that can guarantee the elderly financial security and better health outcomes. Doing this will reduce older people’s dependence on the younger members of the society and hence increase the older population’s autonomy. For instance, if older persons are able to buy food, afford proper housing, get transport to health care facilities, and pay for their health care services or have them catered for through a medical scheme, they will not need too much help from others. By making older people autonomous in regard to acquisition of the aforementioned amenities, the common perception by society that the elderly are a financial burden will be allayed. References Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) 2013, ‘Ageing in Australia’, AASW Position Paper, viewed 7 December 2014, Baptcare 2013, ‘Older Australians who are financially and socially disadvantaged’, Baptcare Social Policy Position Paper, viewed 7 December 2014, Catholic Community Services 2014, Challenges facing Australia's ageing population, viewed 7 December 2014, Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) 2004, ‘Australia’s ageing population: meeting the challenge’, CEDA Policy Statement, viewed 7 December 2014, Healy, J 2004, ‘The benefits of an ageing population’, Discussion Paper Number 63, Australian National University, viewed 7 December 2014, Lui, C, Warburton, J, Winterton, R & Bartlett, H 2011, ‘Critical reflections on a social inclusion approach for an ageing Australia’, Australian Social Work, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 266-282. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2012, Ageing in the twenty-first century: a celebration and a challenge, United Nations Population Fund, New York, viewed 7 December 2014, Waterhouse, C & Angley, P 2005, Social exclusion among older people: a preliminary study from inner-city Melbourne, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Fitzroy, Victoria. Read More