One in six Victorians are ‘seniors’ – aged 60 years or more. By 2021, one in four Victorians will be seniors

  • Population ageing is occurring because birth rates are falling, the "baby boomer" generation is getting older, and people are living longer.
  • The trend towards an older population structure has been occurring over a number of decades both in Australia and in developed countries throughout the world.

Victoria’s seniors are living longer and healthier lives

  • Victorian men, aged 60 in 2001, can expect to live an additional 21 years, with 17 of these years being in good health
  • Victorian women, aged 60 in 2001, can expect to enjoy another 25 years, with 20 of these being healthy.

A small proportion of seniors live in residential aged care facilities

  • Older people consistently express a preference for living in the community, whether with their adult children, on their own, or with a spouse or other person.
  • Less than 5% of seniors reside in institutional care.
  • Home and Community Care (HACC) services are provided to 17% of Victoria’s senior population. These services may include personal care, home maintenance and repairs, and assistance with household tasks.

The diversity of Victoria’s senior population is increasing

  • Those who migrated from overseas to Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s are now entering senior age groups. The ethnic diversity of Victoria’s older population has increased as a result.
  • One in three senior Melburnians were born in non English-speaking countries compared to only 1 in 10 in regional Victoria.
  • At present, two out of every three senior Victorians are women.
  • Indigenous Victorians have a markedly different age structure compared to the non-indigenous population, with 5% being over the age of 60.

In regional Victoria the proportion of seniors is increasing more rapidly than in Melbourne

  • By 2021, large municipalities like Geelong and Mornington Peninsula are expected to have the highest numbers of senior Victorians.
  • Regional Victoria will have some of the highest proportions of seniors by 2021, with West Wimmera and Strathbogie exceeding 50%.

 

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001 Census Data Department of Infrastructure 2000 Victoria in Future