Planning for population ageing: the rhetoric of ‘active ageing’ – theoretical shortfalls, policy limits, practical constraints and the crucial requirement for societal interventions

ABSTRACT

International policy discourse on planning for population ageing has developed around the notion of ‘active ageing’. However, the extent to which active ageing policy prescriptions are responding to social and individual needs at the local level is yet to be investigated. This paper examines the theoretical shortfalls, policy limits and practical constraints to active ageing, with a focus on social exclusion, locational disadvantage, spatial exclusion and the impediments local councils encounter in supporting this policy. Findings from a study on local government and ageing in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, a complementary investigation of projected changes in older populations in NSW local government areas and related issues in the literature are reported. The analysis demonstrates the implications differing local (resource, opportunity, capability and spatial) contexts have for active ageing and the vital requirement for societal interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategic planning
• population ageing
• activity theory
• active ageing
• local government

Disclosure statement

The views contained in this paper do not necessarily, or at all, reflect the views held by the Urban Research Program, Western Sydney University or Ageing, Disability and Home Care, NSW Department of Family and Community Services.

Notes

1. The study was initiated by the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) and undertaken by the Urban Research Centre, University of Western Sydney (UWS).

Additional information

Funding

A research grant was provided by the (former) NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care [grant number DADHC 08.117] with in-kind assistance from the LGSA and UWS.