1. Population and Wellbeing
Question 1: What are the problems of an ageing population?
You will study some interesting pieces of data through this powerpoint gain an understanding into the affects of an aging population for Australia.

2. Starter: What are some key problems of old age?
Brainstorm in your book the above question and write down four to five problems of old age?
What are some problems that governments have to be aware of when governing an aging population?

3. From your own knowledge, what do you notice about the countries containing the highest percentage of young and older populations?

4. Ageing population and problems for Healthcare in Australia?
Will there be higher financial costs for our health care system due to the elderly?
This is a debated point as the following article argues: Medical Journal of Australia, Ageing and healthcare costs in Australia: a case of policy-based evidence? written 2004, (Accessed 2/7/15).
It argues that in comparing a number of major Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries (OECD) with high ageing populations that their increases in health cost would… “likely to be small and manageable”. (MJA, accessed 2/7/15).
See the graph from the same article below for details. (on graph: GDP: Gross Domestic Product. The amount of wealth within a country that is being used).

5. Graph supporting argument of low expense for the ageing population and health care.

6. The health care debate continued:
“Many studies have been conducted into the drivers of health expenditure over the past decade. Population ageing has attracted particular attention in this context (OECD 2013; Productivity Commission 2005, 2013; Treasury 2010). This is largely due to the fact that health care expenditure is generally higher in the older age groups. In , expenditure in Australia on adults aged 85 and over was almost 20 times as high per person as expenditure on children aged 5 to 14. This was true for both men and women.”
“The relationship between ageing and demand for health services is complex, however, and the extent to which current and projected growth in health expenditure can be attributed to population ageing is the subject of much debate. And in any case, over the past 25 years health expenditure in Australia has risen at a faster rate than either population growth or ageing.”
(Source of both quotes: Australian Government, Australian Institute for Health and Wellbeing: (Accessed 2/7/15).

7. Figure 2.10: Allocated health expenditure per person, by age and sex, Australia (Source: AIHW health expenditure database.)

8. Question on health care debate:
Your task is to write a response to the following question:
Can the elderly be seen as a possible problem to Australia’s health care system. What evidence is there available to back up this point?
Your response must be in paragraph format and both identify and explain the evidence used to back up your point.

9. Ageing population and the economy...
Task: Read the article titled: “Lack of population growth Australia” and answer the following questions:
. According to the article, what issues are causing Australia’s ageing population?
. According to the article, what is the issue and connection with the labour (work) force and aging in Australia and how will that possibly affect Australia’s economic situation?
. According to the article, what other countries are in a similar situation to Australia?
. List the key pieces of Data relating to Australia, Japan, USA and China.

10. Suggestions for solving the problem…?
It is too early for the impact of an ageing population on local government to be known with a high degree of certainty. However, from available information it seems likely that the ageing of the population will pose five challenges for local government. These challenges are in:
. Planning for strong growth in ageing populations in certain localities
. Providing an adequate standard of basic infrastructure
. Providing an adequate and appropriate range of local government services
. Managing the financial impact of the growing number of retirees
. Harnessing the skills, wealth and business acumen of older people.
(Source:Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development: accessed 30/6/15
TASK:
In pairs, provide and explain two examples for each of these challenges that Australia’s regional governments will face with regards to an ageing population..?
Write your answers in tour books.
Class will discuss your ideas after task is completed.

11. A reflection upon the problems of getting old.
QUESTIONS:
Why is it important for governments to develop policies to help their societies to better deal with ageing populations?
Why is the issue of an Ageing population and the cost of health care a debated topic in Australia?
What was one interesting thing you gained from this lesson?