Housing and Older People in Australia: Now and the Coming Decades

1. Housing and Older People in Australia: Now and the Coming Decades Presentation to Resthaven Andrew Beer University of Adelaide Andrew.Beer@adelaide.edu.au

2. Agenda • The changing relationship between housing and the life course in Australia • Housing and older Australians • Where to next?

3. Housing Careers • The sequence of housing you occupy through your life course. Measured in terms of the ‘household’. • More recently, David Clapham’s (2002; 2004; 2005) perspectives on housing pathways – a greater focus on the meaning of home. • Conventionally • Leave home • Marry and enter home ownership, soon followed by arrival of first child • Stay in the family home – maybe with one move • Move to a retirement village or die at home

4. Housing Careers The Housing Career ‘Ladder” SOUTHERN RESEARCH CENTRE

5. From Housing Careers to Housing Transitions • Idea that no longer a purposeful ‘ladder’ of housing to ascend • Greater level of movement to more or less advantageous positions • Great deal of lateral movement

7. Generations • The Austerity Generation • 1931-45 • The Baby Boomers • 1946-1960 • Generation X • 1961-1976 • Generation Y • 1976-1991

8. Generation at the 2001 Census

9. What can life course perspectives on housing tell us? • Demand for housing for older people will grow • Many of those in older age will be different households compared with the past • Not all outright owners • 11% private tenants • At significant risk in the private market, including homelessness • Impact of divorce and repartnering • Some with greater levels of wealth through housing • Significant but unequal impact of superannuation

10. What can life course perspectives on housing tell us? • Impact of disability • Declining rates of mortality amongst the aged, but rising rates of morbidity • The ‘old old’ fastest growing population group in Australia • Providing care for others • Desire to remain in the family home and age in place • Many female headed households worse off • Gendered impact of divorce

11. What can life course perspectives on housing tell us? • Changing social values: • Willingness to consume wealth in own lifetime • Proximity to family members a more complex issue • More willing to move within older age • Seachange/treechange migration often leads to churn • May need to provide accommodation for own children/grandchildren into advanced age • Affects the type of housing will accept

12. Current Supply • Most remain in the family home, even though it may be inappropriate • Retirement village industry remains small • Current business models too confronting for many • Costs are too high for many • Limited non-private options • Some older people assume access to public/social housing that will simply not eventuate

13. Where to Next? • The demographic imperatives cant be denied • By 2050 the aged population will double to 25% of the Australian population • The ageing of the population will be responsible for half of new housing construction over the coming decades • Mainstream planning will need to focus on the needs of the aged – eg TODs • Supply of purpose built aged housing will increase, but it will not be sufficient to match demand • Women and those on low incomes will be the most vulnerable

14. Where to Next? • Housing needs of the aged population will also bring other needs: • Impact of social isolation • Need for transport and other services • Demand for financial planning • Staffing