We are all blessed to be alive now in 2025 and should be thrilled that life expectancy in Australia has increased from 59 years in 1925 to 83.18 years in 2025

But as everything in life you don’t get something for nothing .

Rising longevity and decreased birth rate is increasing demand for aged care in staffing and in funding— in a system that’s already strained and stretched almost to its breaking point .

Now, about 14% of Australians are older than age 65.

And that number is going up.

By 2043 that number will be 20.7%

So Over 1 in 5 .Or approx 7.25 million people - About the current population of Sydney, Adelaide , and Canberra metro areas combined will be over 65 in Australia

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The demand for residential aged care in Australia is also projected to double over the next 20 years, with an average year-on-year increase of approximately 9,900 new residents, reaching almost 400,000 by 2043

That being said A recent poll has indicated that 68% of Australians prefer to

receive care in their home rather than live in an aged care facility .

Consider that

Elderly people  have usually lived in their home for many years and built relationships with neighbours and the surrounding community.

Even small daily interactions, like the conversation with a local postal worker or a familiar grocery cashier, provide a network of social support which help keep their morale high and continue to provide a sense of purpose—- which has been proven in multiple studies to aid in longevity and quality of life .

Moving to residential care requires building a new community.

This can be difficult and stressful.

An inpatient environment, no matter how well-designed, can never be as homelike as one’s private home.

As of 30 June 2023, 258,374 Australians accessed Home Care Packages

In fact the Aged Care Home care and Residential Services industry in Australia is $36.4bn in 2025.

Not surprisingly , navigating this bureaucracy and industry can be difficult and overwhelming .

One person who is committed to helping older people remain living in their own homes as long as possible in their own way is Jennifer Holmes

She runs a company called in my place and she joins us here today