Health of Older Australians

As Australia’s population continues to age, understanding the health status and functioning of older Australians becomes increasingly important. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), older Australians, defined as those aged 65 and over, face a range of health challenges but also report relatively high levels of well-being.

Key Health Findings

1. Self-Assessed Health: In 2022, approximately 74% of older Australians rated their health as good, very good, or excellent. This positive self-assessment includes 42% who reported their health as very good or excellent and 32% who rated it as good. However, 26% reported their health as fair or poor, with the proportion of those reporting poorer health increasing with age.
2. Disability and Functioning: As of 2018, half (50%) of older Australians had a disability, with the prevalence of disability increasing significantly with age. For example, 36% of those aged 65-69 reported having a disability, compared to 85% of those aged 90 and over. Furthermore, nearly 1 in 5 older Australians (18%) had severe or profound disabilities, meaning they sometimes or always needed help with core activities like self-care, mobility, or communication.

Proportion of people aged 65 and over with disability by sex and age group, 2003 to 2018

3.????????????? Life Expectancy:

1. Life expectancy has improved dramatically over the past century. As of 2020–2022, life expectancy at birth was 81.2 years for boys and 85.3 years for girls. For those aged 65, men could expect to live an additional 20.2 years, while women could expect to live another 22.8 years

4.????????????? Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy:

1. Health-adjusted life expectancy, which considers the time spent living with ill health, shows that in 2023, men aged 65 could expect to live another 15.3 years in full health, while women could expect to live another 16.7 years. This represents about 76% and 74% of their total remaining years of life, respectively.

5.????????????? Leading Causes of Death:

1. In 2022, dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, was a leading cause of death among older Australians, particularly among women aged 80 and above. However, coronary heart disease remained the leading cause of death for men across most older age groups, with lung cancer and COPD also being significant contributors to mortality.

5.1 Leading causes of total burden (DALY; number and proportion of age group) by sex and age group, 2023

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Women

6. Injuries:

• Injuries, particularly from falls, are a significant concern for older Australians. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older people, and the risk of falls increases with age, contributing to a higher burden of disease and reduced quality of life.

The health of older Australians is multifaceted, with a significant portion reporting good health despite the challenges posed by aging, such as increased disability and chronic conditions. As Australia’s population continues to age, it will be crucial to focus on improving the health and well-being of older adults through targeted health interventions, support for managing chronic conditions, and strategies to prevent injuries.

For more insight, please see

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/health/health-status-and-functioning???