Ageing New Zealand issues

[In the second of a two part series, we look at some issues raised by a recent talk on an ageing New Zealand.]

Recognising change

Something else to think of is the changing needs of our ageing communities. For example, a person born in 1929 normally married around 20 yrs of age, had their first child not long at all after that, had around 4 children and the last child normally left home when the parent was 45 years of age.

The baby boomer age group is much different however, with the average age of marriage being 31 after some time of living with their partner, having their first child at around 33 and then the last child of the usually two children, leaving home when the parent is about 58years old.

This means that the baby boomer generation will be vastly different to earlier generations. Not only in regards to marriage and children but also in ethnic diversity, less stable partnering relationships, assets, work experience, educational experience, technology , lifestyle and consumer behaviour.

All this means that the care and support needed in the future for ageing generations will most certainly be quite different from the past and even current needs.

Promoting active ageing

While we have many programmes on offer for the ageing population we have a lack of people going into these, perhaps we need to be looking more at how to get these people out into these groups (do we need a community van to transport people there and back?) rather than trying to reorganise and create new groups and activities.

For this to happen we need active operations from the individuals themselves as well as both local and central governments. Even the Department for the Deputy Prime Minister put out a graph with the heading “Healthier, more engaged older people can make a bigger contribution to society”.

Individuals can help by building good social relationships, keeping up participation in social and voluntary activities, planning for gradual retirement, making sure their housing is suitable for themselves as they age, ensure adequate income by paying off debts etc, etc.

Local Governments has its part to play by promoting civic and community participation, provide opportunities for individuals to access exercise groups, facilitate lifetime housing design, support  flexible and accessible public transport etc, etc.

Central Government would be at an advantage if they were to maximise potential of the older workers, encourage flexible retirement options, get on with long term planning for health service delivery, have stable retirement income systems etc, etc.

All these points are just skimming the surface of the upcoming challenges facing New Zealand, and these challenges are coming fast! The amount of people coming up for the 65 age group will increase by 150% and the amount coming up for the 85 age group will increase by 400% by the year 2050!

With all the current situations such as the many cuts in funding to so many very important programmes such as Falls Prevention and Adult Community Education it is more and more necessary to engage in discussion on this matter to ensure the correct process and plans are in place to support our ever important ageing communities.