Home Instead Senior Care; Elder Care Demographics

Who Needs Home Care? 1

An estimated 2.7 million people – 13.3% of the population are 65 years and older.
By 2031 nearly 23 % of the population will be 65 years and older.
The 65+ population which was 2.7 million people in 2006 is projected to double to more than 5.7 million people by 2031.
The 80+ population, which was .74 million in 2006 is expected to more than double to 1.7 million people by 2031
Nearly 50% of women and 21% of men 75 years and older were living alone in 2001
People aged over 65 years are at greatest risk of sustaining an injury from a fall. Approximately one in three people aged 65 years and over fall each year, with 10% having multiple falls and over 30% experiencing injuries requiring medical attention. The rate of falls and associated injuries is even higher for older people in residential aged care and acute care setting. 2

Who Provides Home Care? 3

Over 2.6 million Australians provide informal care to older people and people with a disability
Carers are most often family members and 78% of primary carers care for a person in the same household.
Over 78% of care received by seniors is provided directly by a family member.
93,100 primary carers are aged 65 and over and care for their partner – an increase of over 27% in the last five years.
The number of older people that are likely to need assistance due to a severe or profound disability will increase by around 160% by 2031.
The number of informal carers of older people is expected to increase by only 57%.
This means that for every 100 people aged 65 and over and needing care there will be 35 carers.

Who Needs Non-Medical Care?

For many carers, the demands of the caring role means that support services such as respite care play an important part in maintaining their own wellbeing and their ability to continue and maintain levels of care.
More than 1 in 3 carers spend 40 or more hours per week providing care. 4
16% of primary carers receiving assistance reported that they needed further assistance in providing care, whilst 9% of carers not receiving assistance, reported that they needed assistance. 5
36% of primary carers reported that there was no "fall-back" carer available.

Sources:
1. www.abs.gov.au

2. National Falls Prevention for Older People Initiative – Dept. Health and Ageing

4. ABS, Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings , 2003.

5. ABS, Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings , 1998