Ageing in Australia

Running head: AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
Ageing in Australia
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AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
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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AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
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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AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
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.