While ageing can be associated with a decline in health and functioning, with many health conditions and associated impairments – such as arthritis, dementia, and hearing loss – becoming more common as people get older, Australians are generally living longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Life expectancy is increasing both at birth and over the course of a person's life, as most Australians enjoy greater standards of living and better access to high-quality health care.
While longer lives are a positive outcome, increasing longevity and the ageing of the population can have implications at the national and individual level – including, but not limited to, the economy, retirement planning, and the availability of services.
Older Australians are a diverse group, with different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, life experiences and lifestyles. Each individual has different abilities and resources, and their experience of ageing will be influenced by these differences.
Some groups of older Australians face disadvantages that affects both their mental and physical health and their opportunities for social and economic engagement within their communities.
