Disadvantage among older people: not always what it seems
Sarah Fogg and Barbara Squires
The Benevolent Society
Contact Email: sarahf
bensoc.org.au
Disadvantage and social exclusion in older age are associated with a number of interrelated factors, including but not limited to financial status. Although there is a tendency for social exclusion to cluster in geographic locations and communities, not necessarily everyone at risk of social exclusion lives in a deprived area.
The Benevolent Society is planning a major project to trial a new model of housing, care and support for older people. Central to the Society’s mission are helping to build stronger communities and targetting social and economic disadvantage.
On average, Waverley in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where the project is located, is a relatively advantaged area socio-economically. However, rapid gentrification from being a predominantly working class area has created some particular social and financial pressures for its long term residents - i.e. older people. These pressures are particularly felt by low income older renters, and by low income home owners when declining health makes their housing unsuitable.
This paper will examine the factors that combine in this area to create vulnerability among older people, and the implications for the planning of the Society’s new model of housing, care and support for older people and for social policy.
Paper
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Copyright © 2007 Social Policy Research Centre.
