Finding home sweet home

Where will you rest your head for the night? Nearly 20,000 Australians aged 55 years and over experience homelessness, finding shelter in boarding houses or caravan parks across the country.

With figures showing older homeless Australians fighting a battle on the streets, Homelessness Australia’s chief executive, Nicole Lawder, says there is an urgent need for the expansion of community aged care places and the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged program to enable homeless Australians, or those in social housing, to access aged care beds when they need them.

Ms Lawder adds political parties need to ensure older Australians are “afforded the dignity that a safe place to call home provides in the final years of life”.

Criticising the Productivity Commission Report, released in August, for making little mention of the future care needs of older Australians who may find themselves homeless as they age, Homelessness Australia believes preventing homelessness for these seniors is an “important priority”.

Housing options are important, as Ms Lawder says older Australians who are not home owners must be supported to access affordable well-located rental accommodation that meets their needs.

Homelessness Australia believes there should be improvements to:

• Long-term aged care and housing services for people with histories of homelessness and marginal housing.

• Aged pension and a rise in the number of community aged care packages available to people from disadvantaged backgrounds or who have limited means; and

• More mainstream aged care providers need to contribute in the provision of aged care places for people who have experienced, or who are experiencing homelessness.

Do you have any suggestions on ways to prevent older Australians from ending up on the streets? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.