Ageing in Australia

Running head: AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
Ageing in Australia
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
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AGEING IN AUSTRALIA 1
Introduction:
In the recent era, demand for aged care has increased exponentially as a result of a
population of aging in Australia. In Australia, aged population over 85 years has increased to
40000 and it will be 1.8 million in 2051 (Theou et al., 2016). Underlying these trends are
changes in life expectancy at retirement age of 65. In 2017, more than half of older people were
aged to 65 to 74 years and one-third of them were 75 to 84 years ( 30 % approximately) and
only 13 % of them were aged 85 years (Kendig et al. 2017). Therefore, the aged care facilities
are crucial for reducing the morbidity and mortality rate of Australia. According to Arabiat et al.
(2018), it was observed that the importance of long term aged care for the older population has
become increasingly important due to the prevalence of a disease such as cardiovascular disease,
diabetes obesity, mobility issues, and psychological disorders. The diversity of these diseases not
only affected the health of the aged population but also increased health care expenditure
exponentially (Scott et al., 2015). Therefore specific policies and practice framework need to
analyse in order to manage and prevent these chronic diseases. According to Lucas et al. (2018),
national legal and policy frameworks were relevant to the aging population in order to provide
them comprehensive long term care. The case study represents the different perspective of aging
involving a 68 years old Barbara, her parents who are 93 and 91 respectively and her friend Jim.
This paper will illustrate social determinates of health that impacted the aged population of
Australia in the context of Barbara, demonstration of national legal and policy frameworks for
the disease and policies for prevention of management in the chronic disease.

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Social determinants of health and influence of it in the older population:
As observed in this cases study, Barbara martini is a 68 years old woman who is a
working woman and never got married on children. In the case study, different perspective were
shown with respect to their aging process,
As discussed by Atkins and Tonts (2016), the social determents of the health care
economic and social conditions which influence individuals and groups differ in the health
status. World Health Organization suggested that these factors are health-promoting factors
found as an integral part of individuals which enhances the risk of developing chronic disease or
vulnerability to injury. These social determinants are often shaped by public policies and
therefore proper policies are required to reduce the global burden of disease. According to
Hillman et al. (2018), the social determents of health are stress, early life experience, social
exclusion, work environment, unemployment, social support, addiction, accommodations, food
habits, and transportation. The social determinists interfere with the quality of the life,
functionality of the older pollution.
Effect of housing on older population:
A study by Hoff and Park (2016), suggested that the current inadequate housing impacted
the functionality of the older population. A majority of the people want to age in a place; the
house should have age-friendly elements, zero-step entrance, and single floor living with wide
halls, wheelchairs. Puts et al. (2017), suggested that only 3.5% of the house offers these three
elements to the individuals, therefore, the majority of elderly individuals are suffering from the
mobility issue, hip fractions, and sudden fall. In the case study, Barbara’s parents are living
independently in town but due to frail health. Therefore, living away from Barbara affected their
aging process.

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Effect of income on older population:
A steady income and associated economic status support welling of the individuals as the
study suggested that majority of the older people are above 65 years and due to their retirement,
they have lower economic status and for few individuals, family lives away from them as
observed in this case. Another study by Harling et al (2019), a considerate number of individuals
are suffering from depression and social isolation due to employment. Barbara was a working
lady who finds business as a way of satisfaction through income. On the other hand, parents of
Barbara, as well as her close friend Jim, were unemployed and therefore, it impacted their life.
Effect of dependency on the aged people:
The state of the dependency affected the majority of the individuals. It was observed
from the accumulated evidence that the significant number of older people are suffering from
depression and other health issues because of dependency on self-care and lack of belongingness.
They have to depend on other family members as observed in cases of parents of Barbara.
Barbara parents demand more time from Barbara due to a health condition which Barbara failed
to offer which further may result in social isolation (Hoff & Park, 2016).
The effect of transportation on older people:
Due to mobility issues and week health, the walking and travelling by transport affect the
wellbeing of the older population. Aging is a painful process which affected the human anatomy
and therefore transportation to access health care and other service required the assistance of
others as observed in this case.

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Theory of aging and how it shapes attitude and values of individual’s person:
Most of the people are bound to experience aging and the age-related deterioration is
affecting and growing number of people. Although the process is unavoidable, different people
experienced it in a different way. Accumulate evidence showed different theories that are useful
in evaluating the effect of the aging on the attitude and values (Rosset, 2017). Disengagement
theory suggested that everybody expected to die one day and as older individuals experience
meant and physical declines, they tend to withdraw themselves from the social effect (Reed,
2017). Moreover, the theory suggested that social withdrawal is gender-based that means it is
experienced differently by men and women. Men tend to focus on work and women focus on the
marriage. In this context, Barbara is fit and living a satisfied life due to the role she adopted as a
working lady, it shaped her attitude. The aging process can be explained by activity theory
which stated that activity level, social involvement in the key to happiness. The more active an
elder person more happy he or she will be. In this context, due to social involvement and
interactions, it shaped her attitude towards life (Maatouk et al., 2016). On the other hand, due to
lack of activity and social involvement, her parents have different the attitude towards life. This
theory is also applicable for Jim for activity, although he had many hobbies, due to retirement
and lack of activity affected his attitude towards life. The Age stratification theory and
exchanged theory explained how aging shaped the values and beliefs of individuals (Deane &
Fain, 2016). Age stratification theory is stratified by race and gender and it showed that age
serves as the basis of social control and therefore, different age group has varying access to the
social resources such as political and economic. For example, in this case of Barbara, it is
inconsiderate for a woman who is fit, unmarried and involves in business. On the other hand, her
parents were retired and therefore unable to access the social resources equally well. It shaped
their values and attitude towards life. The exchanged theory suggested that with the age, elder

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people experience dependence and become less active to exchange resources as observed in this
case study (Ji, Ling & McCarthy, 2015). Barbara is 65 and involved in the business and able to
exchange resources. On the other hand, her parents who are 91 and 93 are not able to exchange
resources and had to depend on Barbara. These theories suggested that age and genders are
effective in shaping the values of the individuals that further reflects their attitude towards life.
National and legal policies related to the aging:
Population aging is one of humanity’s greatest triumphs and it has also become one of the
greatest challenges of in 21st century and global aging increased the economic and social
demands on all of the countries. Therefore, Australian human rights commission is legislated
different policies for protecting the rights of older persons in order to provide for patient-centred
care and active aging (Humanrights.gov.au., 2019). These aging policies and framework help in
evaluating fist is an international legal framework and under this framework, the principles of
older persons are integrated and second is the domestic legal frame. These frameworks provided
three relevant policies which are accurate for Barbara, her parents and her best friend.
First policy: National palliative care strategy
For improving the health and nutrition wellbeing of the older people of the Australia
older people, National palliative care strategy. National palliative care strategy was endorsed in
2000 by commitment of common wealth, territory and state government. According to the world
health organization, in the aging process, the biological changes are observed in the body that
affected the wellbeing of the individuals (Ji, Ling & McCarthy, 2015). In the current context of
Barbara, although she is fit and involved in business, due to the age she may develop the
different chronic diseases such as back pain, heart disease, visual impairment, obstructive
pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Moreover, her parents demand her time which she has failed to

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give. Consequently, it may give rise to mental health issues such as depression because of her
work pressure and unable to spend time with family. These are the physical and psychological
changes that may impact Barbara’s situations (Smith & Parker, 2015). On the other hand, her
parents lived away, independently and required the time from her due to physical weakness. At
the older age, lack of physical activity, they may develop chronic heart disease and kidney
disease, mental health issues and additionally, Alzheimer’s disease (Reinharz, 2018). The
similar kind of health condition can be observed for the Jim due to lack of active life. He was
living a sedentary lifestyle which may affect his physical health and mental health (Alligood,
2017). Therefore, National palliative care strategy is in practice for improving the health and
nutrition for the older people. For health and nutritional improvements, National palliative care
strategy allows the nurses to promote active aging and aim to provide improved services. Three
components of the patient-centric care conceptual framework would be aligned with the national
palliative care strategy where a first component (structure) would give formal and informal
support through primary service, palliative services, and rehabilitation services to parents of
Barbara to cope up with the health conditions including neurological disease. In order to promote
active aging, support of nurses should be given to the family members of the Barbara and Jim
who will assist them to perform daily activities, consuming healthy foods (Bauman et al., 2016).
National palliative care strategy assist to provide long term care including the mental health
services in order to overcome the loneliness they are experiencing because of separation which is
effective for their end of life. This strategy help to identify the barriers of safe delivery of
palliative care services and therefore it is effective for care process.

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Second policy: Residential aged care end of life care pathway
It is usually observed that due to the aging process, older people tend to be physically
weak because of weak muscles. In this current context, Barbara’s parents were suffering from
these issues due to the health frail health conditions and Jim were experiencing due to retirement.
Therefore, in order to improve the housing and living conditions, the residential care is in the
current practice (Alligood, 2017). Residential aged care end of life care pathway was developed
by collaboration of government and non-government professionals and incorporate best clinical
management, accommodation, personal care and complex services for the aged people. In the
current context, single floor house near the house of Barbara with proper lighting for their
survival, a ground for physical activities, and frequent access to the food and water, clothing and
health care services (Humanrights.gov.au., 2019). The strength of the policy is that this pathway
assist nurses to guide patient perform self-care, assist them to live life independently by engaging
them in income gathering activities, spiritual activities management of dementia (König &
Schilling, 2016). It will shape their attitude towards life and they will feel more empowered and
able to participate in social activities.
Third policy: National primary health care strategic framework
Inadequate family and community support not only increase the burden of disease but
also increase morbidity and mortality rate. According to Wlodarczyk et al. (2017),
strengthening the family and community is proved to improve the wellbeing of individuals and
help in getting the life. The National primary health care strategic framework is the first national
statement, endorsed by stand council on health for creating robust primary health care system
and strengthening family and community support. In the current context, national primary health
care strategic framework provide primary health care services to the Australian community in

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collaboration with community, population groups and family members. The unique feature of the
policy is that community-based care approach is the integrated part of the policy. Through
community-based approach Barbara can engage in different social activities with her family
members and Jim, establishing a therapeutic communication with them in order to release their
feeling of loneliness and share her experience with them (Aird & Buys, 2015). It will strengthen
the relationship between Barbara and her parents and they will feel more secure about the
relationship (Smith & Parker, 2015). Additionally, other community caregivers can be recruited
to give support to them through neighbour helping, peer monitoring. The community-based care
approach also includes the education to the Barbara to balance her work and time with the family
(Bauman et al., 2016). The education should be given to them for managing the mental health
issues and how to overcome it quickly. The education should be given to Jim in order to enhance
his healthy aging process through different activities such as formal work, informal work, and
unpaid activities at home to enhance his health (Aird & Buys, 2015). It will reduce the feeling of
unemployment and boost self-esteem and change the perspective of living a healthy life.
Conclusion:
With the rapid aging process of Australia, demand for aging care also increases
exponentially. With the increasing age, different individuals are suffering from different mental
health and physical health issues which reduced their life expectancy. Therefore, the aged care
facilities are crucial for reducing the morbidity and mortality rate of Australia. The cases study
represents different perspective of aging involving a 68 years old Barbara, her parents who are
93 and 91 respectively and her friend Jim. Different social determinants such as stress, early life
experience, social exclusion, work environment, unemployment, social support, addiction,

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accommodations, food habits, and transportation affected their life differently. Due to physical
activity and mental activity, the perspective of the life of Barbara different from her parents as
well as her friend Jim. These experience shaped their values and life activity. Three policies of
the national legal and practical framework can be can be implemented in the context of Barbara
and her family. These policies are include improving health and national wellbeing of the older
person, improving the housing and living conditions of the older people and Strengthening the
Family and Community to provide support. These policies promote patient-centric care and
active aging nation’s older individuals that in turn improves their quality of life.

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