Key Challenges

Older people are living longer than at any time in history. By 2050, the world will have almost 400 million people aged 80 years or older. Never before have the majority of middle aged adults had living parents. This change has been called the demographic revolution. The population of Australia is following this pattern. Poluation ageing is actually taking place in every country, with each country at a different stage of the transition.

Older people want to enjoy independence and good health, and contribute to the life of their community. However, they can face certain challenges such as maintaining optimal health, social isolation, and ageism.

Nurses need to be aware of these challenges, so they can help older clients to overcome them. There are many resources available to help you to understand these issues. You can link to some examples at the bottom of this page.