Ageing in Place for Women in Australia

What proportion of Australian women are aged 65+?

The proportion increased from 15% of the female population in 2012 to 18% in 2022

Why is ageing in place particularly important for women?

Women make up the majority of older Australians, and the older female population is growing

What housing trend particularly affects older women?

Older women are increasingly represented in the private rental market. The number of older women renting privately doubled from 90,000 in 2006 to over 180,000 in 2016.

Why may older women have less financial security than men?

Some women have had lower lifetime incomes, particularly if single, and may have less superannuation, be receiving the Age Pension, or still have a mortgage after divorce or buying a home later in life.

What proportion of Australian women aged 65+ receive the Age Pension?

61%

Why does home ownership matter for ageing in place?

Most older Australians who own their home outright have more financial options, can maintain community/family networks, and can continue accessing familiar services. They are also more likely to intend to age in place.

Who has fewer choices about ageing in place?

Private renters may struggle because of rising rents and are most likely to want to move. Social housing tenants have low satisfaction but often want to stay; they can age in place but are more likely to enter residential care.

What does “ageing in place” mean?

Remaining in your own home for as long as possible, potentially until natural death, rather than entering residential aged care.

Why might a healthy older woman want to age in place?

She may be safe and capable of living independently at home, particularly with appropriate support

What are some benefits of ageing in place for women?

• Greater control over their lives

• Greater independence

• Continuity of community and family connections

• Familiarity with their home and neighbourhood

• Continued access to familiar services

Can very frail women age in place?

Yes. Even some frail women can remain at home if they have adequate and appropriate paid and/or family support

How can the aged care system push women toward residential care?

Residential care can become the default pathway after hospitalisation, particularly following a fall or injury.

What other factors can make residential care seem like the only option?

• Poor understanding of alternative care pathways

• A difficult-to-navigate aged care system

• Families feeling unable/unwilling to provide care

• Older people being excluded from decisions about their own care.

What is infantilisation of older adults

Treating older adults as though they cannot make their own decisions, resulting in others deciding their future living arrangements for them

What two principles are important when making decisions about and older woman’s care?

Autonomy of choice and dignity of risk - older people with decision-making capacity have the right to make their own choices, even when those choices involve some risk.

How can poor digital literacy affect older women?

As services move online, women with lower digital literacy may struggle to access shopping, banking, postal services, Centrelink, and My Aged Care, and may also become more vulnerable to scams.

How can healthcare systems themselves contribute to functional decline?

Prolonged hospital stays, particularly while waiting for residential aged care, can cause loss of physical function and abilities. Traditional home care can also focus insufficiently on maintaining independence and self-care.

What factors determine what a woman needs to age in place?

Physical and mental health, whether she has a partner and their health, ability to maintain her health, financial and social support, housing/lifestyle affordability, satisfaction with her home and neighbourhood, how safe she feels.

What physical changes can make a home safer?

Removing trip hazards, installing grab rails, removing a bathtub, improving bathroom flooring, improving lighting, lowering kitchen shelving, removing clutter, replacing unsafe appliances.

What should women consider about their neighbourhood?

Whether they can safely access shops, libraries, volunteering, healthcare, and other services, and whether streets and pavements are safe and well maintained.

What support networks can help a women age in place?

Reliable family/friends a functional healthcare network, transport, community connections and appropriate professional support.

What is my age care used for?

It provides an initial assessment/triage and can refer someone for a detailed assessment of their care needs. A person is then assigned a package level and can choose an aged care provider.

What can community support workers (CSWs) provide?

Cleaning/laundry, personal care, transport, social support, medication prompts when appropriately trained.

What can CSWs NOT do?

They generally aren’t nurses and can only perform tasks they are trained and paid to do under the persons care plan.

What legal steps can women take to prepare for ageing?

Create and Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPG) and Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) with trusted people, make a legal will, appoint a reliable executor and understand their legal rights

How can women protect their social and mental wellbeing as they age?

Stay socially connected, get out of the house and maintain a network of friends. They should also become informed about elder abuse.

What is multigenerational housing?

Housing where multiple generations of a family live together, potentially in a larger home or a seperate “granny flat” attached to or near the family home.

What are the benefits multigenerational housing?

Older parents/grandparents can be cared for by family

Grandparents may help with childcare

Families can maintain close relationships

Universal design can make homes accessible across different ages and abilities

What are the risk of multigenerational housing?

Divorce/financial seperation can leave the older person without housing, Remarriage/blended families can create uncertainty about caring responsibilities

Family conflict can occur

Grandparents may feel trapped or exhausted by childcare expectations

There is risk of elder abuse

What does the lecture say about elder abuse?

Around1 in 6 older people experience elder abuse in a given year. Psychological abuse is most commonly reported, followed by neglect and financial abuse. Around half of perpetrators are family members.

What is a retirement village?

Independent/communal living for generally healthy retirees, often involving selling the family home and moving into an apartment/villa-style community with other older adults.

What the financial risks of retirement villages?

High maintenance fees and high exit fees may reduce the persons remaining funds when they eventually need residential aged care

Why is Australias current aged care system considered financially unsustainable?

Australia has a shrinking taxpayer base, while the current aged care system requires substantial government funding

What is happening to aged care packages?

Packages are being increasingly targeted toward those with the greatest needs and may cover fewer services

What may happen to self-funded retirees?

They may increasingly be expected to fund their own aged care and home modifications using superannuation, savings and investments.

What controversial possibility does the lecture identify?

It identifies expanded use of voluntary assisted dying as one possible future development in the context of reducing aged-care financial pressures.