OLDER people want to play a much greater role in helping address the many issues they face today, according to peak body Council on the Ageing SA.
Health, housing, elder abuse, cost of living pressures, access to technology, ageism and problems facing older people in rural areas are among issues identified by the organisation and included in 23 recommendations as part of its 2017-18 state budget submission.
It wants the state government to help “rewrite the script” when it comes to ageing by using the budget to fund initiatives that enable older people to become key influencers of service design, research and innovation.
COTA SA chief executive Jane Mussared said the government had the opportunity to fund initiatives that reflect modern ageing in all its diversity.
“We want to see living laboratories get off the ground and, with them, plenty of opportunities for older people all over the state to play a central and defining role,” Ms Mussared said.
“We are getting a very clear message from older South Australians that being part of an occasional conversation is simply not enough.
“People want to play their part in their communities, to be at the table and to exercise influence as active participants and partners – and our recommendations are practical initiatives designed to achieve just that.”
The budget submission recommends:
- Funding for COTA SA to create an “active participant community” as part of a living laboratory network.
- A commitment to legislative reform and services to prevent and respond to elder abuse and a campaign to increase the understanding, completion and use of advance care directives.
- A commitment to redesigning health services in partnership with older people to improve continuity of care, health care co-ordination and alternatives to hospital.
- Exploring and funding new models of accessible and affordable housing, particularly for older women, and funding a trial housing support service for older people.
- Working with industry to conduct research on barriers to digital inclusion and expanding the Tech Savvy Seniors Program into SA.
- Extending transport concessions beyond off-peak times and improving transport options in rural areas.
- Initiatives to tackle age discrimination in the workplace and support career planning, up-skilling and retraining.
- Addressing the rising cost of living, particularly for older people, by installing solar panels in all social housing and offering incentives and direct funding to those on low incomes to install solar panels.
- Increasing core funding to COTA SA to work in the rural sector particularly in areas experiencing financial downturn.
