“In 2017, there were 3.8 million Australians aged 65 and over. By 2057, the projected number is 8.8 million people.”  The dynamics of the world are changing rapidly, and there’s increasing pressure placed on the aged care sector. This is a result of the increasing ageing population.

Many people are able to manage at home with a little extra help and assistance. However, some elderly people don’t meet the requirements for government funded aged care services. Consequently, the responsibility to assist falls on family members and friends. Many families embrace the roll of caregiver with open arms. They’re able to communicate openly about care needs and goals. For others, they might not have family close by, or could feel uncomfortable with family helping them. Entering into older age and aged care is daunting for many people. The idea of leaving the family home and dealing with the prospect of chronic disease and even death, is a big deal.

Moreover, the journey into retirement is not always an easy one. With the cost of living increasing it’s becoming more common for children to be caregiver for their ageing parents. End-of-life care can often be a difficult conversation to bring up and tackle, but it is an increasingly important topic to face. Be open and frank with each other and on what each parties needs and hopes are.

Finally, for more info and tips on changing the narrative on ageing care read the full article: ‘Not a burden’: Caring for ageing parents and what you need to discuss with them.