Accommodation issues for elderly people : State Government perspectives

Abstract

Only a small proportion of older people ever come into contact with nursing homes. About 4.5 per cent of those aged 65 and over live in nursing homes, and proportions increase with age, and vary quite notably by State. Victoria and South Australia have higher age profiles than the other States with almost half of the nursing home residents in those States aged 85 or over. Research indicates that aged people in the future will probably look more towards the formal system of care and less to their families. Many families want to look after their elderly relatives but they are not equipped to do so, nor do they have the social supports they need.