The Ageing Australian Population

According to the Treasury report “Australia to 2050: Future Challenges”, the proportion of people aged 65+ years is projected to increase from 13% in 2010 to 23% by June 2050. At the same time the proportion of working-age people in the total population is expected to fall by 7 per cent to 60 per cent. This demographic shift is anticipated to place significant pressure on the healthcare and aged care systems.

Population projections also demonstrate a rising rate of migrants from Asian countries. By incorporating an Asian perspective in healthcare and age care, we can open up new innovative solutions that benefit the entire population.

From health fixes of medicine to true health care from traditional belief

Traditional practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and Jamu emphasize well living through balanced diets and holistic practices like exercise, movement, and mindfulness. Rooted in the philosophy of preventative care and clean living, these beliefs often integrate traditional and modern treatments. This behaviour is very common in Asian countries. People in India and China for example seek advice from traditional medicine practitioners as well as doctors. Imagine if healthcare systems adopted this preventative approach alongside existing medical practices.

In Australia, modern wellness centers already offer a variety of services, including traditional gyms, Allied Health services, dieticians, cryotherapy, magnesium plunge pools, and IV treatments. What if these centers expanded to include offers such as TCM doctors, yoga studios that also serve as Ayurveda clinics, Tai Chi classes and traditional treatments like cupping? Integrating these practices open up opportunities to develop a more age and cultural inclusive approach to fitness and preventative wellness that could benefit the total population.

Encouraging community and multigenerational living arrangements

In many Asian cultures, it is uncommon to send elderly family members to aged care facilities unless necessary. It’s probable that as the population age, there will be a growth in multigenerational households and communal living arrangements. We are already seeing this happen in pockets of Asian communities in Australia where sandwich generations (those responsible for both children and elderlies) are living under the same roof. This provides benefits of childcare from elderly members of the household while those responsible for care are able to manage a balance of work and care without additional costs. Furthermore, community focused values of many Asian cultures mean people can reach out to other members of the community for additional help creating a mini village economy.

However much of this care is unrecognised and unpaid. What if those looking after the elderly were eligible for social welfare or tax benefits as well as access to professional training on care? What if affordable home benefits and offers led to creating clusters of multigenerational homes where communities could be built around looking after families with elderly members?

Understanding and integrating Asian communal living models could potentially foster a more inclusive and sustainable approach to age care, benefiting both the caregivers and the elderly. This approach not only honours cultural values but also addresses the growing needs of an aging population.