Throughout the world, large numbers of older persons face challenges such as discrimination, poverty and abuse that severely restrict their human rights and their contribution to society. The world has not been quick to respond: a lack of political will and the prioritisation of the special rights of other disadvantaged groups have often been at...

The Benevolent Society has released the seventh in its series of community aged care Research to Practice Briefings. Briefing 7, Supporting older people who are experiencing mental distress or illness, reviews Australian and international research evidence on the symptoms and treatments of mental illness in older people to provide guidance for community care practitioners in...

A defining characteristic of present-day Australia is the large number of baby boomers – those born between 1946 and 1965 – who are retiring or approaching retirement from paid employment. Just as the baby boomers’ previous major life events, such as being employed and childbearing, have significantly impacted on Australia’s economy and society, so too...

Although it is popularly thought that older people prefer to downsize to smaller dwellings, the evidence suggests there is a reluctance to do so (Judd et al. 2010). This is partly because of the strong attachments to their existing home and the need for space for post-retirement activities important for health and wellbeing. This study...

The Australian Government is undertaking a review of the services available to help people in need of assistance to access and make the most of the telecommunication choices available to them, including the National Relay Service (NRS). While relay services provide vital support, new technologies—such as those enabled by the internet and smartphones—allow people in...