Baby boomers to have big impact on future demand for services

Baby boomers would have a profound impact on future demand for services for older people, Minister for Seniors and Youth Warren Pitt said today.

Mr Pitt drew attention to the rapidly ageing Queensland population while officially opening the Aged Care Queensland State conference on the Gold Coast.

“The age shift in the Queensland population is quite startling,” Mr Pitt said.

“We frequently hear terms such as ‘grey nomads’ and ‘baby boomers’. Beyond those labels, however, the age group involved will demand special attention because of its sheer weight of numbers.

“In 2001 there were 301,000 Queenslanders in the 70 plus age bracket. By 2022 that figure is predicted to more than double to 672,000.

“And if that isn’t surprising enough, it is expected that by 2051, one in four Queenslanders will be aged 65 or more.”

Mr Pitt said total funding of $309.5 million was being spent this financial year in Queensland under the Home and Community Care (HACC) program, which was jointly funded by the Commonwealth.

He said this represented an increase of 11.31 per cent over the previous year and was providing services to 160,000 of Queensland’s more vulnerable citizens.

“HACC services have enabled many frail older people and younger people with a disability to continue living at home,” Mr Pitt said.

“Over recent years there has been an increase in the average age at which people in Queensland are entering residential aged care facilities, from 80.7 years in 1999 to 81.8 years last financial year.

“That is a very encouraging trend and one that we believe will be maintained,” he said.

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280