The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is calling for a solution to address challenges that Australia’s ageing population are potentially facing in terms of housing. This follows the release of new national population figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the fastest growing age cohort is between 75 and 79 years old.
Daniel Gannon (pictured), executive director of the RLC, said the government needs to address concerns around housing this demographic cohort immediately.
“With an annual growth rate of 6.6%, the 75–79-year-old age group significantly outpaces all other demographics with an overall growth rate of 2.4%,” Mr Gannon said. “Over the next two decades, the number of Australians over 75 will increase from two million to 3.4 million people, which will have socio-economic impacts on the nation.
“Given the housing and care challenges associated with Australia’s demographic outlook, we need age-friendly solutions to a problem that will only get harder.”
Gannon has proposed a focus on retirement villages, noting these “save the commonwealth government a billion dollars every year.” He said this kind of a home is better designed to minimise trips and falls, and with this residents would have fewer visits to the GP, shorter hospital stays, and delayed entry to aged care.
“All of this reduced interaction with doctors and hospitals releases capacity back into health systems for those who need it most, when they need it most,” said Gannon.
“Encouraging and facilitating more seniors into retirement communities carries the added benefit of freeing up traditional housing stock for singles, couples, new and growing families.”
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