Retirement in your own home not a nursing home is the overwhelming preference of Australians of all ages

The research asked Australians for their views on older age and aged care through a national survey of over 10,000 adults by Roy Morgan (undertaken October 2019 to January 2020), and a large qualitative study by Ipsos involving 35 focus groups and 30 in-depth interviews (conducted July to September 2019).

The research shows the large majority of older people who are living independently enjoy happy, healthy and active lives. They make lifestyle choices to keep themselves independent and healthy as long as possible, including spending time exercising.

However, a number of older people need support to continue living independently, such as help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, and attending medical appointments. People tend to prefer to receive this support from their family and friends, however in the current aged care system most of this support is from paid help. Helping to support older relatives is more common among people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Paid help from aged care service providers tends to be preferred by people when they need higher-level assistance, such as help dressing, eating, going to the bathroom and nursing care. Most people think this type of assistance would be inappropriate and burdensome for family to give.

People of all ages have a strong preference to remain living in their own home should they ever need support or care. Many want to downsize or move closer to family and people who experience prejudice and other trauma from institutions are particularly worried about living in an aged care facility. This includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex and transgender people; people who are homeless; people who were placed in institutions during childhood; parents separated from their children by forced adoption; and young people with disabilities.

People with special health needs are also particularly worried about living in an aged care facility.

Only 25 percent of older people would prefer to live in a facility should they need care.

The research showed that around 84 per cent of adults have visited a residential aged care facility but overall the community has a very negative opinion about life in these facilities. They think the residents are often lonely, do not have control over their lives and are not happy, but have access to medical care and are safe in comfortable, well maintained accommodation. The community is divided about whether residents receive the help they need with daily activities, whether they are respected, and whether there are enough activities for residents.

The research also showed considerable ignorance about about other aspects of the aged care system. Only nine per cent of people know about My Aged Care, the Government's aged care information service and only four per cent know about the aged care regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Most people have little idea of how much money the Government spends on aged care each year.

A statement from the royal commission said the Australian community's lack of awareness about the aged care system helped explain why Governments have neglected to fix major, obvious problems.

In its interim report the royal commission showed there had been 20 major Government inquiries over the past two decades and many of the recommendations had been ignored.

Commissioners, Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs, said the research confirmed Australias aged care system needs major reform in order to align with community expectations.

Australians want the Government and community to assist older people to live well in their own homes for as long as possible. The royal commission has been investigating how to achieve that.

To read the royal commission's research papers visit the publications page.