Ageing Older People in Australia

This assignment explores the evidence about Australia's ageing population, the impact of ageism on service provision for older people, the changes in psychological and social aspects of ageing, gender issues in organising activities, the impact of gender on assumptions about sexual practices, social determinants of ageing for Indigenous people, reasons for homelessness among older people, issues associated with older people who undertake child care of their grandchildren, views on voluntary assisted dying, and risk factors of elder abuse.

Ageing older people in Australia

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
What evidence have you found about Australia’s ageing population?..................................1
How does ageism impact on service provision for older people?..........................................1
As an exercise, look at yourself in a mirror and compare the image that you see with a
photograph taken at least ten years ago and ask yourself the following questions that can be
posted to the discussion forum: How have I changed psychologically or socially?..............2
You have been asked to organise an activity for either older men or women in a residential
aged care facility. What activity would you offer? What is the goal of your activity? Drawing
upon your readings this week what gender issues might you consider in organising an
activity?..................................................................................................................................2
What is the impact of gender on assumptions about sexual practices and on the sexual
behaviours of older people?....................................................................................................3
What are the social determinants of an Indigenous person as they age?................................3
What are some of the reasons an older person may become homeless?................................4
What are the issues associated with older people who undertake child care of their
grandchildren?........................................................................................................................4
What are your views on voluntary assisted dying?................................................................5
What are some of the risk factors of elder abuse?..................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Ageing older people has major problem regarding their health which impact negatively on their
daily life activities. It includes the condition of ageing older people to easily acquire infectious
problems due to their weak immune system and their recovery power is reduced. In respect of
this assignment, it will focus on impact of ageing on service provision of older people and way
of change occurs among them psychologically and socially. It will also include impact of gender
on assumptions of sexual practices and social determinants of an indigenous person related to
age. The reason behind homelessness of older people and issues related to childcare of
grandchildren by old citizens is given below.
TASK
What evidence have you found about Australia’s ageing population?
Considering the founded evidence, it has been analysed that 15 % of Australian population has
aged above 65 years who can be considered in category of older people. It includes the
population of around 3.8 million who is old in the given country. However, it is observed that
recovery power of older people reduced due to which their healing process is slow. Ageing
population is required to focus on their health and eat healthy food along with carrying out
physical workout in order to maintain better health condition with the help of avoiding diseases
(Walker and Paliadelis, 2016). Meanwhile, it has been identified that ageing population of
Australia above 65 years of age are expected to continue to grow. It includes the criterion that 15
to 64 years of age has been observed to have minimal change. In addition to this, it involves the
fact that given country has population aged 85 years and above has been increased by 141.2 %
that includes 494300 to 484600. It will facilitate to indicate that age people has been increased
by 9700 within duration of one year accordingly. Moreover, it consist the need of aged people to
improve their lifestyle by eating diet food and adopt regular physical workout to remain healthy.
How does ageism impact on service provision for older people?
The ageing impact on service provision for older people includes their reduction in developing
opportunities to earn more and gain success. It includes the fact that older people has limited
ability to perform hard work and reduced capability to provide increased productivity for an
organisation. It is observed that opportunities for older people regarding their benefits are
reduced as these are grabbed by young employees in an institution because they are providing
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more productivity as compared to aged citizens. Meanwhile, it consist the fact that ageing is
responsible for occurrence of several molecular and cellular changes over time. It will leads to
gradual reduction in physical as well as mental capacity, a growing risk of specific health
problems and ultimately death. However, it has been analysed that ageism is responsible for
affecting the service provision for older people as they did not get better career opportunities due
to their reduced productivity for an organisation (Harrison and et. al., 2020). It is observed that
some of other factors are also accountable for reduction in service provision such as smoking
habit, alcohol consumption, stress, diet, disease and medications which directly impact on health
condition.
As an exercise, look at yourself in a mirror and compare the image that you see with a
photograph taken at least ten years ago and ask yourself the following questions that can be
posted to the discussion forum: How have I changed psychologically or socially?
Considering the image of young and old age, it has been analysed that old age impact on
psychological condition due to which they behave like a child which generally happen in older
age. It includes the differences in looks as the wrinkles and small weak eyes face will be
acquired in old age whereas the young face looks fresh and strong. However, the confidence
level get reduced in old age which is strengthen in young due to having more interest as well as
passion. It is observed that social change is acquired among old age people to reduce their
society meetings and other gatherings whereas young age person have lot of busy schedule but
still they are interested to have night parties or fun (Harrison and et. al., 2020). Some of
questions are mentioned here.
 Do I really lose my social contacts in old age?
 In what ways my psychological condition will be changed in old age?
 Who is the person who influences my old age the most or become supportive for me?
 Will my children like me when I become old and care for me?
You have been asked to organise an activity for either older men or women in a residential aged
care facility. What activity would you offer? What is the goal of your activity? Drawing
upon your readings this week what gender issues might you consider in organising an
activity?
In Context if residential aged care facility, it has been evaluated that health promotion activity is
preferred to improve the condition of senior citizens which facilitates to make them live
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independently. It includes the goal of increasing awareness among senior citizens for adopting
appropriate lifestyle including healthy habits so that they can avoid severe health issues in order
to remain better condition. However, it is necessary to provide information about healthy habits
like intake balanced diet, regular physical work out, walking, meditation etc. which is favourable
for them to avoid disease and become healthy. It will provide support to them for gaining
independent living of older people which is favourable to improve their comfort level for
spending their rest of life in appropriate manner (Grant and Walker, 2020). Moreover, it is
observed that women complaint about factor of inequality for them in society on the basis of
gender which is required to be improved for making their lives easy.
What is the impact of gender on assumptions about sexual practices and on the sexual behaviours
of older people?
The older people shows different assumptions among men and women in regards to sexual
practices and sexual behaviours. It includes that sexual behaviours vary according to gender as
women show less interest sometimes due to their uncomfortable condition regarding unhealthy
condition whereas men indicates more interest sometimes. However, it has been analysed that
sexual activity and respective desires has been reduced in elderly people but some of people
remain interested in old age. It is observed that sexual expression among older individuals often
perceived as non-existent, humorous, grotesque or even sordid as well as disgusting. In addition
to this, it consist the fact that younger people has more interested for sexual practices and sexual
behaviours but it get reduced among older people accordingly (Hughes and King, 2018). It
includes the different assumptions among men and women related to sexual practices as well as
sexual behaviours due to which sexual relation get affected. In context of old couple, it is
observed that women are not generally in favour of sexual practices at elder age whereas male
partner show more interest for the same which impact negatively on their sexual relationship.
What are the social determinants of an Indigenous person as they age?
Social determinants can be defined as social factors which are responsible for affecting the health
condition and ageing process among old age people. It includes the number of social
determinants that are liable to have impact on ageing of indigenous people such as connectedness
to family, culture, identity, country and land. It is observed that many of people belongs to
indigenous group face discrimination in society due to which they lifespan is less as compared to
other citizens of Australia. It has been identified that major social factor is inequality in the
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country which is faced by individuals belongs this community which impact negatively their
health condition as well as ageing procedure. The old indigenous people have more weak health
condition as compared to the other Australians due to which they may suffer from severe
physical or psychological condition. They have other problems also like limited income and poor
living condition due to which they cannot afford much effective lifestyle and healthcare services
due to which old people of indigenous group are more likely to have less chance to become
wellbeing (Byles and et. al., 2019).
What are some of the reasons an older person may become homeless?
The older people become homeless many times because their young children do not want to
afford their needs or care for them. It includes the condition that senior citizens lose their income
to fulfil basic needs and they are more likely to face condition of homelessness as their children
do not want to care about them. However, some of senior citizens face homelessness because
they have no child or relative then such people seek for social old age homes to spend their rest
of lives. It is observed that some of senior citizens acquire severe physical or psychological
health condition then their children do not want to fulfil their health needs then also such old age
individual become homeless (Harrington, Williamson and Goodwin-Smith, 2019). Meanwhile, it
has been evaluated that some of main reasons are responsible for homeless condition of senior
citizens in the nation such as lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, mental illness
& lack of necessary facilities and substance abuse as well as lack of desired care services
accordingly. In addition to this, it is observed that homeless of old age people seek for old age
home and other free of cost residents in order to spend their rest of lives in comfortable manner.
What are the issues associated with older people who undertake child care of their
grandchildren?
Considering the actual condition of old age people, it has been analysed that they have acquire
some of mild, moderate of severe health problems including high blood pressure, obesity,
diabetes, kidney problems, asthma, heart disease and many more. They have faced various kinds
of problems in their lives if they are required to undertake child care of their grandchildren.
Meanwhile, the main problem regarding taking care of grandchildren includes to afford their
basic needs and education which is a difficult task for the grandparents. They are required to use
their all the assets and property to manage the care needs of these kids. In addition to this, t is
observed that other problem is that grandparents are physically weak then helping kids with their
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regular needs is a problematic task for them to drop and pick form schools or playgroups. In
context of old age condition (O’Loughlin, Browning and Kendig, 2016). It is very difficult for
them to provide care for their grandparents if they have some chronic health issue like diabetes,
osteoarthritis, anaemia, skin problems etc. This condition develop problem that how to manage
their own appointments with doctors because if they are not well then they are not capable to
take care of grandchildren which is not suitable for their future respectively.
What are your views on voluntary assisted dying?
The voluntary assisted dying can be described as criterion in which a regulated intervention is
used by an authorised healthcare practitioner via either providing a person the means to end their
lives or ending their life by primary intent of relieving pain. It includes the criterion of following
a legal process of voluntary assisted dying to make person relived from pain to end their lives. In
this context, there is legislation of Voluntary Assisted Dying act 2017 which is responsible for
allowing the assisted suicide in some of specific cases of people. However, it is observed that
this law give chance to anybody who is suffering from terminal illness with less than six months
to live, right to end their life (Harrison and et. al., 2020). In addition to this, it has been identified
that this law had implementation duration of around 18 months and it came into effect on 19
June, 2019. I believe that this legislation can be applied in only rare cases when a person is in
extreme level of pain due to some genuine health problem which has no cure or treatment and
doctors said that rest of life of an individual will be in extreme pain. Otherwise, this legislation is
not appropriate because natural death or end of life is better for an individual.
What are some of the risk factors of elder abuse?
Elder abuse is also a major issue in the society because when they become weak physically then
anybody can abuse them in different manner. It is observed that around one in every six senior
citizens get abused in community settings in past year. The risk factors of elder abuse include
their lack of income, limited body strength, homelessness, etc. However, it has been analysed
that some of old age people get physically abused by their own children which is major problem
of the society because such activities are responsible for affecting the psychological as well as
emotional state of them (Feist, 2016). It has been identified that elder abuse can leads to more
senior physical injuries as well as long term psychological consequences that affect their rest of
life. Moreover, some of old women are victim of sexual abuse also due to which they acquire
permanent mental illness.
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CONCLUSION
From the above assignment, it has been concluded that old age people face several kinds of
problems due to their weak condition. It includes the condition that many of elder citizens are
responsible to face severe health problems due to which their children take them to old age
homes or they become homeless.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Walker, H., & Paliadelis, P. (2016). Older peoples’ experiences of living in a residential aged
care facility in Australia. Australasian journal on ageing, 35(3), E6-E10.
Harrison, S. L. & et. al. (2020). The dispensing of psychotropic medicines to older people before
and after they enter residential aged care. Medical Journal of Australia, 212(7), 309-313.
Harrison, S. L. & et. al. (2020). Trends in prevalence of dementia for people accessing aged care
services in Australia. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 75(2), 318-325.
Grant, R., & Walker, B. (2020). Older Lesbians’ experiences of ageing in place in rural
Tasmania, Australia: An exploratory qualitative investigation. Health & Social Care in the
Community.
Hughes, M., & King, A. (2018). Representations of LGBT ageing and older people in Australia
and the UK. Journal of Sociology, 54(1), 125-140.
Byles, J. E. & et. al. (2019). Successful ageing from old to very old: a longitudinal study of
12,432 women from Australia. Age and Ageing, 48(6), 803-810.
Harrington, A., Williamson, V., & Goodwin-Smith, I. (2019). Understanding the diverse forms
of spiritual expression of older people in residential aged care in Australia. Journal of religion
and health, 58(5), 1561-1572.
O’Loughlin, K., Browning, C., & Kendig, H. (Eds.). (2016). Ageing in Australia: Challenges
and Opportunities (Vol. 16). Springer.
Harrison, F. & et. al. (2020). Prolonged use of antipsychotic medications in long-term aged care
in Australia: a snapshot from the HALT project. International psychogeriatrics, 32(3), 335-345.
Feist, H. (2016). Ageing in rural Australia. Australian Ageing Agenda, (Jul/Aug 2016), 10.
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