Influencing Policy

Improving Practice

Enhancing Quality of Life

It is hard to exaggerate the importance of an ageing population within Australian.

The rapid growth in the ageing population is due to the 'baby boomers' - the cohort born between 1946 and 1964, entering the ranks of seniors. Because of their numbers they will constitute the greatest growth ever, of the elderly population, not only in Australia but also throughout both the developed and developing world (Kinsella & Velkoff, 2001). In the general population, there are issues associated with an ageing workforce, retirement and continuing employment, social and emotional health, health services, intergenerational structures and many others.

It is important to recognise that many older people continue to live healthy, active and independent healthy lives. However, of all cohorts, they are likely to have the greatest impact on the health care system from about 2010 to 2040. Australian aged care is at a watershed. The past 20 years has seen major shifts in the balance of care in community and residential settings; creation of innovative community programs; funding and services focused more on individual need; and the development of assessment as the focal point for individuals gaining access to appropriate services.

Therefore, research into ageing needs to address issues for the whole population as well as older people across a continuum of independence-to-dependence and health-illhealth.

Kinsella, K., and Velkoff, V. A. (2001). An Ageing World: 2001. Washington, DC: U.S Government Printing Office.

Research Themes

Aged Care Services

This theme includes services and support systems, alternative and innovative models of service delivery, quality of care issues, health workforce patterns and models.

Health in Ageing

This theme includes ageing well/ageing productively, health and well-being of older people, supportive environments, accommodation, workforce, retirement, wellness and independence. Far from being a negative issue, maintaining health in ageing is one of the most dynamic and relevant issues of our time. It will impact across all levels of societal behaviour and corporate and government performance.

Dementia

This area includes models of service delivery, approaches to care, issues for carers, workforce capacity and skills to improve the care of people with dementia and their carers.