International Day of Older Persons

01/10/2024

Diversity

Today is the International Day of Older Persons, observed annually on 1 October. The day recognises the contributions of older people to society, and seeks to raise awareness of the issues affecting their lives, including prevention and treatment of illnesses throughout the entire course of life, and maintaining activity levels and independence.

This year’s theme is ‘Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide’. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports an estimated 52% increase in the number of older people between 2009 and 2022, compared with a 12% increase for those aged 0 to 64 years over the same period. The ABS also reports that in 2022 around one in eight (11.9%) Australians provided unpaid care to people with disability and older people, up from 10.8% in 2018.