Centenarians On The Rise

Centenarians On The Rise

10 January 2007

Age Concern New Zealand has welcomed the 2006 Census results showing 537 people aged 100 or over - up from 399 in 2001. The numbers are projected to continue increasing as 'baby boomers' age.

"It's time to begin planning for them now", says Age Concern's Chief Executive Ann Martin. Increasing numbers of older people will require action by government, local authorities, health providers and all our communities.

Older people are keeping working longer but income support will be needed from Government. The majority of older people depend on superannuation for all or most of their income. Even the most prudent retirement saving can be insufficient for 35 years of retirement, so a reasonable state-provided income will always be necessary.

Access to primary health care, as well as acute and palliative care is vital for older people. They will have increased health care needs, but not as much as people might think: most health expenditure is needed in the last year of life, whether one is 50 or 100.

It's also important that older people aren't denied health care just because they're 'old': a 70-year-old who receives an operation may have 30 years or more of productive life ahead of them, Age Concern says.

Flexible housing and home care options will be needed, to permit ageing in one's own home or in supported living arrangements. More people will be living alone and depending on professionals. Changes we may see include cooperative housing and the younger-old looking after older old people.

For the first time, we will see increasing numbers of Māori, Pacific peoples and other ethnic groups represented among the older-old. They will need culturally-appropriate services.

"We need to see faster progress towards the goals in the government's Positive Ageing Strategy and Health of Older People Strategy," Ann Martin says.

Age Concern New Zealand congratulates the centenarians, and the number of older-old (people aged 80 or more) has also increased to 128,904, up from 109,748 in 2001.

The increasing number of older New Zealanders is good news - let's make the most of it, says Age Concern.

ENDS

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