Today is Ageism Awareness Day, and a recent national survey by Bolton Clarke highlights the gap between society’s belief in learning from older generations and the respect shown to them in practice.
While 91% of Australians agree that we can learn from older people’s experiences, only one-third feel that society truly respects them. The survey, involving over 2,000 Australians aged 24 to 75+, revealed that younger respondents (25-45 years) were more optimistic, with more than half believing older Australians are respected. However, only a quarter of respondents over 65 agreed with this view.
Nearly two thirds of all respondents planned to keep working past retirement age – including part-time, casual or in their own business.
Survey resondents
The survey also explored attitudes towards ageing, revealing that the greatest fear across all age groups is the loss of physical health. Younger respondents (24-44 years) expressed concerns about losing mental or cognitive health, while older Australians (65+) feared losing their independence. Many respondents, particularly those aged 25-74, looked forward to having more choices about work in their older age, with over-75s prioritising time to focus on health.
With Australia’s ageing population projected to rise to 25% by 2066, nearly 70% of Australians believe the nation is unprepared to support this demographic shift. Greater investment in home care and resources to improve ageing services were among the top suggestions for improvement.
