DO YOU EVER TALK ABOUT A ‘STUPID
OLD MAN’ OR A ‘SENIOR’S MOMENT’?
Have you spoken to an older person as if they were
a young child? Do you call them dearie or darling
rather than addressing them by name? Or do you
ignore older people and their concerns, and speak
instead to their younger companions?
These are some examples of behaviour which
belittles or discriminates against older people, that
older people encounter every day in our community.
ENTITLED TO RESPECT
Older people are entitled to be treated in the same
way as younger people and to be seen as individuals
with their own needs, preferences and life stories.
They have a wealth of experience and knowledge
which is a resource for the community.
Older people have the right not to be discriminated
against because of their age. Treating a person
unfairly or harassing them because of age in relation
to employment, rental accommodation, the provision
of goods and services, public education and registered
clubs is against the law in NSW.
Respecting older people means recognising their
diversity and individuality. It also involves challenging
unhelpful myths and negative assumptions about
older people.
MORE INFORMATION
Seniors Information Service
Ph: 131 244 (NSW only)
www.seniorsinfo.nsw.gov.au
Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing
www.maca.nsw.gov.au
Ph: (02) 8270 2154
Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
Ph: (02) 9268 5544
TTY: (02) 9268 5522
Toll free: 1800 670 812
(rural and regional NSW only)
www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb
Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission
Complaints Infoline: 1300 656 419
(local call)
TTY: 1800 620 241 (toll free)
www.humanrights.gov.au
Community Justice Centres
Toll free: 1800 990 777
TTY: 1800 671 964
www.cjc.nsw.gov.au
This brochure was developed by the NSW Ministerial
Advisory Committee on Ageing and the Office for
Ageing in the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability
and Home Care. Published March 2007.
ABS and DADHC (2004) Older People NSW 2004, p 20.
AIHW (2007) Dementia in Australia, p 56.
3
National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. World Class Care Discussion Paper
(2000), p 18.
4
Tiffen and Gittens (2004) How Australia Compares, pp 7, 109 and Andrews
(2001) British Medical Journal 322, pp 728-729.
5
Health Affairs (2000) 19(3).
6
Lindenberger and Reischies (1999) The Berlin Ageing Study and GD Cohen
(2005) The Mature Mind.
7
ABS (2005, 2006) Household Use of Information Technology.
8
AXA (2007) AXA Retirement Scope 2007: Executive Summary, p 6
9
AARP (2005) The Business Case for Older Workers and Access Economics
(2001) Population Ageing and the Economy, pp 4-9.
10
Access Economics (2001) Population Ageing and the Economy, pp 13-14.
11
Australian Employers Convention (2001) The Human Resource Costs and
Benefits of Maintaining an Age-balanced Workforce, pp 9-16.
12
ABS and DADHC (2004) Older People NSW 2004, p 17.
13
DADHC (2002) Volunteers in HACC Funded Services (unpublished report).
14
ABS and DADHC (2004) Older People NSW 2004, p 18.
1
2
OLDER PEOPLE
MYTHS &
REALITIES
MYTHS &
REALITIES
MYTH Ageing equals sickness, disability
and dementia.
REALITY Two out of three people aged 65 years
and over rate their health as good to excellent.1
Dementia affects 2% of people 65-74 years, 6% of
people 75-84 years and 22% of people 85 years
and over. 2
MYTH Older people are a burden on society.
REALITY 80% of people 70 years and over live
independently without help from care services.3
MYTH The ageing of the population is a
looming crisis.
REALITY People are living longer, many enjoying an
active and healthy older age.4 Several countries are
already managing population ageing successfully, by
supporting people to remain healthy and independent
as long as possible.5
MYTH People stop learning once they reach
60 years.
REALITY Older people continue to learn as they
age. They are particularly good at integrating new
material into their existing skills and knowledge.6
MYTH Older people don’t understand
new technologies.
REALITY People over 55 years are the fastest
growing group of internet users in Australia.7
A survey of retirees under 75 years found 53%
accessed the internet from home.8
MYTH Mature age workers lack the drive,
creativity and commitment of younger workers.
REALITY Mature age workers are skilled and
highly effective employees.9
MYTH Mature age workers take more time
off due to sickness, accidents and caring
responsibilities.
REALITY Mature age workers have fewer
accidents at work than younger colleagues and
absenteeism is similar for older and younger
workers.10 Despite the higher cost of workrelated injuries among mature age workers in
some industries, they are more cost-effective
than younger workers.11
MYTH Older people are isolated and lonely.
REALITY Approximately 80% of older people
attend social activities (e.g. restaurants, outings,
sport) and 65% go to cultural events and venues
(e.g. cinema, libraries, museums).12
MYTH Pensioners and retirees only care
about themselves.
REALITY Many older people actively contribute
to their communities. For example, more than half
of home and community care volunteers in NSW
are 65 years and over,13 and 28% of people 65
years and over do unpaid voluntary work.14