The contrast between rights with dignity and rights without is increasingly apparent with regard to two groups of Australians: retirees and those in aged-care facilities.
Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, 80, before ascending Mt. Everest for the third time.
REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Warren Sanderson, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York) and Sergei Scherbov, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
New research says we should discard conventional ways of analyzing what it means to age. It’s how well people function that counts.
Housing security matters for older Australians like the residents of Millers Point, Sydney, who fear having to make way for development.
AAP/Hugh Peterswald
Without affordable and secure housing that meets the needs of older Australians, the nation cannot hope to sustain the productivity that is needed to secure future prosperity.
Definitely the wrong trousers, too much chafe.
Colin Hurst
Bionic trousers could use artificial muscles to help wearers move about – and soft robotics technology will make the clothing comfortable and maybe even stylish.
Only 3% of elderly people know how to access health-related information.
LoloStock/Shutterstock
With more health information going online, it has never been easier to proactively manage our health. Problem is, the people who would benefit the most are using it the least.
Among older adults living in the community, almost 10% are malnourished, while another 40% are considered to be at high risk of malnutrition.
Kevin Dooley/Flickr
Malnutrition is a significant issue around the world, especially in developing countries. But it’s not just a problem for poor nations; a large number of older Australians also suffer from this insidious…
We need to rethink care for the elderly.
Image of hands via Lighthunter/Shutterstock
By 2030, the last of the Baby Boomer generation will have turned 65 years old, putting the population of “senior boomers” in the United States at approximately 71 million. Currently, only about 7,000 certified…
We live in an ageing society, with the global median age rising steadily. Australia’s economic viability will increasingly rely on retaining older people in the workforce for longer. This, of course, relies…
Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic on online dating websites, with those aged 50-plus making up 22% of members on Australia’s leading internet dating site. In this episode of TCTV, Sue Malta…
Older adults are the fastest-growing group of internet dating site users and the number of couples over 60 who met online is surprising.
Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock
Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic on online dating websites, so much so that there has been a recent proliferation of sites catering specifically for the senior market, such as DatingOver60s…
Feeling secure about housing is very important for elderly people, especially when physical and financial constraints limit their options.
Image from Shutterstock.com
The federal parliament has established a far-reaching inquiry into affordable housing. The terms of reference make only two specific references to issues affecting older people, but it is essential that…
Stories about “population ageing” often have a number of things in common – it is bad, it is new, and it will overwhelm us all. The major fear is a burden of cost and caring that more older people will…
Licensing authorities place the onus on drivers to report any medical conditions that might affect their driving.
Image from shutterstock.com
Few states mandate that doctors or other health professionals must report unfit drivers to licensing authorities – and for good reason. Driving is an everyday practice for many Australians, but that doesn’t…
What about decent standards in care homes?
Stefan Rousseau/PA
Most people would agree with Jeremy Hunt that isolation and loneliness are bad things and that we should try to make sure that older people (and everyone else) do not suffer from them. So far so good…
The community can provide more than 15 minutes of care.
teaeff
It should come as no surprise to anyone that there is a growing crisis in adult social care. Policymakers, practitioners and people using services alike all argue that the current system is fundamentally…
Older people living with younger family members is increasingly popular, but there can be associated legal issues if the relationship breaks down.
Shutterstock
Last year, having recently lost her life partner, 78-year old Miriam* was advised by her children that the family home was now “too big” for her to live in. She sold her property and moved into the home…
It’s naive to assume neighbourhoods mean communities.
RobertHuffstutter
Neighbourhood watch groups should apply for care status and provide help for older people to counter Britain’s “uncivilised” attitude to pensioners. As well as looking out for potential burglars and keeping…
Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Unit Head, Twins Research Australia and MyBRISK Centre of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer Risk; Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne