Challenges Faced by the Australian Ageing Population - Term Paper Example

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE AUSTRALIAN AGEING POPULATION Student’s Name Professor Course Date Introduction Many countries’ populations are characterized with increasing numbers of the ageing people. For instance, in Australia, it is predicted that by 2022, the population will be over 4 million people aged above 65 years (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, p. 56). The increasing ageing population has been attributed to advancement in health care education, especially for the old. Aging is a process that begins early in one’s life and continues until one dies. It represents the finishing period in one’s life, whereby one can look back and evaluate ones’ accomplishments and failures (Posner 1995, p. 26). However, this is the period in one’s life a person is faced with various challenges socially, emotionally, and financially. Adjusting to old age changes is difficult and requires an individual to be flexible and develop skills to overcome the various challenges associated with old age. The aim is to discuss the various social challenges facing the old people in Australia. The discussion will outline the source of the identified challenges and conclude by providing some strategies that can be implemented to help the ageing people cope with these challenges. Social challenges faced by the Ageing in Australian Society Health problems Associated with Old Age According to Borchelt, Gilberg, Horgas and Geiselmann (1999, p. 409), the ageing people are confronted with various physical health challenges. Among these include, immobility and disability. Many old people cannot move about because of weakening bones and in extreme cases, some become disabled whereby they cannot move, lose their hearing, and eyesight capabilities. Borchelt et al. (1999, p. 409) explain that immobility and physical disability are among the biggest challenges facing the ageing population all over the world. The old require support from family and friends to carry on with their daily activities such as hygiene, eating, walking. However, many of these old people live alone because their nuclear family members tend to migrate to urban areas because of employment. Therefore, the old are left in the rural areas to cater for themselves despite their various physical inabilities. The old people are not only confronted by physical inabilities but also mental health problem associated with old age. According to Cattan (2009, p. 63), the ageing population are at a high risk of developing mental complications, such as loss of memory and psychological confusion a condition referred to as delirium. Cattan (2009) points out that delirium is a serious problem affecting many ageing people all over the world. A person suffering from this disease requires constant and ever-present support and comfort. However, statistics show that old people in Australia live alone mainly in the rural areas and hence lack any one to support and comfort them. Lack of Access to Appropriate Health Care Facilities for the Aged According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999, p. 22), many old people, especially the ones living in the rural areas lack access to appropriate aged care facilities and health centers. In the rural areas, there are few if any health care facilities established for taking care of the ageing people. Most of the facilities, which take care of the old are mainly found in towns, meaning the ageing population in the rural areas have been left out. Therefore, the extremely old people who require such facilities are left to strive on their own to carry on with the daily routine activities. Health care facilities in the rural parts of Australia are also few in number and many old people lack access to these facilities because of reasons, such as lack of transportation, and inadequate finances among others. Social Isolation and Loneliness According to Max et al, (2005, p. 178), loneliness is one of the biggest challenges facing the old, not only in Australia but also in all societies all over the universe. Loneliness is a serious issue, worse even than poverty affecting many old people. As Max and others (2005) argue, the old people are isolated and tend to live alone because their nuclear family members move away to form their own families. Very few are lucky enough to live with their sons or daughters with children and hence get a chance to live with their grandchildren. Isolation does not only result because of moving away of the nuclear family members. As Kennedy (1996, p. 26) point out, the old seem to be isolated in very many social events. When these people are in the social events, they feel out of place because the young generation in these events lacks the skills to interact with them and make them feel unwanted. Therefore, they tend to isolate and keep to themselves where they will not face any discrimination based on age and physical inability. According to Kennedy (1996), isolation is the main cause of depression in old people, and this greatly affects their psychological wellbeing. Kennedy (1996) argues that many suicides committed by old people are because of loneliness and depression. The Insufficiency of Income Support and Pensions As reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999, p. 18), the pension granted to retiring people is not sufficient because of the increasing cost of living in Australia. Cost of living is not only high in Australia but also globally because of economic recession. The ageing population is constantly faced with many health problems requiring quality health care (Cattan 2009, p. 65).This means that a large proportion of old age pension is used in clearing medical bills. In addition, old people require special diets because of their changing body needs. This means they have to spend much maintaining their health. Because of economic recession faced by Australia and other countries, medical charges have almost multiplied compared to a decade ago. Prices of essential commodity have gone so high. This means that the old people find it difficult to manage their little pensions to meet all these expensive, essential needs. Lack of Employment and Workplace Discrimination According to Posner (1995, p. 33), the ageing population find it difficult to secure a job both in the private and public sector. Many companies shun off people aged above 55 years on the basis they have nothing to offer to their organisations. This is one of the main causes of depression in these people. Other companies deny ageing people job opportunities because they will demand huge pensions and yet they have not worked for long in their organisations. Lack of employment is highly stressing these old people because they require a means of earning income, which is highly necessary for meeting their health and other basic needs. According to Max et al. (2005, p. 181), another source of depression in old people is workplace discrimination. In many organisations, especially in the private sector, the old employees are denied job promotions because they lack the skills, expertise, and charisma to execute complex duties. Generation Y, which forms a big proportion of today’s employees in almost every sector do not want to be associated with the old employees. This is because they view them as being outdated, rigid to change, and lacking skills required to handle today’s complex technology. Strategies to help ageing Population Cope with their Challenges According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999, p. 27), the government should enact health care policies that ensure their ageing population has enough and quality health care facilities. The policies should see to it that the ageing people are provided cheap or even free health care because they have limited resources. In addition, the government should ensure that the rural areas where a large proportion of this population lives, is developed in terms of social amenities, such as good roads for easy transportation, and health care facilities among others. After retirement, the government should ensure the old receive minimal wages until they die, to ensure they can cater for their basic needs, such as food and clothing. Policies that ensure the old people are provided with job opportunities and are not discriminated at their workplaces should also be formulated and effectively implemented. Max et al. (2005, p. 187) point out that families should be educated on the importance of supporting their old family members, as they are essential factors that enhance their psychological wellbeing. Conclusion From the discussion, it is evident that there are various social challenges facing the ageing population not only in Australia but also in all parts of the world. Among these challenges are isolation and loneliness, depression, insufficient pension, unemployment, and workplace discrimination just to mention but a few. Because of these challenges, depression in old people has become a common phenomenon. To help these people cope with these challenges, the government should enact policies that address the essential needs of their ageing population. The policies should see to it that the rural areas are developed in terms of social amenities, such as good roads, adequate health care facilities to enable the ageing people who mainly reside in these areas access health care easily. Families should also be educated on the importance of providing financial, psychological, and emotional support for their ageing family members. Reference List Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, Disability and ageing, In: Health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2005, Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics: 55-72. Australian Bureau of Statistics 1999, Australian social trends 1999; health status: health of older people, Canberra, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Borchelt, M., Gilberg, R., Horgas, A. I & Geiselmann, B 1999, On the significance of morbidity and disability in old age. In: Baltes P.B, Mayer K.U, editors. The Berlin Aging St Aging from 70 to 100. New York, Cambridge University Press Cattan, M., ed. 2009, Mental health and well-being in later life, Open University Press, Maidenhead. Kennedy G.J 1996, The epidemiology of late-life depression. In: Kennedy G. J, editor. Suicide and depression in late life: Critical issues in treatment, research and public policy, New York, John Wiley and Sons Max, L. S., David, J. V., Jacobijn, G., Aartjan, T. F., Ross, van der Mast & Rudi, G. J. I 2005, depression in old age fatal only when people feel lonely? American Journal Psychiatry, 162, 178–180. Posner, R. A 1995, Aging and old age, Chicago, University of Chicago Press. •• Read More