HOW SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BABY BOOMERS SEE THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY ARE 70 MARY LUSZCZ DIRECTOR, FLINDERS CENTRE FOR AGEING STUDIES FLINDERS UNIVERSITY South Australian Active Ageing Research Cluster (3 SA Universities, COTA, OFTA)
BACKGROUND Baby Boomers From ABS to anecdote, indicates this generation is unique compared to those born before or after Births between 1945 1964 increased substantially and were followed by a drop in birth rates Size unparalleled in history, at each life stage, they were focus of policy and investment (schools, jobs, housing, retirement) Lives they ve led affect way they view ageing Different expectations and aspirations, compared to previous generations Don t know just how they are different and what they bring to the situation, what they will want and need in late life
AIMS AND STUDY QUESTIONS To have breadth of coverage Household and Living Arrangements Employment & Retirement Volunteering & Caring Activities, Internet & Networking Health Transport Use of Services in Community Sought information on Aspects of their current lives and Asked to project forward to age 70
SAMPLE
METHOD AND DISTRIBUTION BY AREA 1204 Randomly Selected by dial up 1204 / 13,450 = 39% Response Rate Interviewed by Telephone by PROS/Harrison 30 minutes Born between 1945-1964 # Respondents % Respondents Adelaide Metropolitan 854 70.9 Country SA 350 29.1 Total 1204 100.0 43.5 57.5
PLACE OF BIRTH, BY SEX AND AREA (%) Male Female Metro Country Metro Country State Australia * 75 90 76 86 78.5 North West Europe & UK * 17.6 8 16 10.5 15.2 SE Europe 2.8.9 3.1.6 2.3 Other 4.9 1.2 4.6 3.2 4.4 n 374 218 406 206 1204 Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding * Significant difference between Metro and Country for both sexes
FINDINGS Expectations about Living Arrangements, Retirement, Volunteering, Internet Use, Council Services Sample as a Whole
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS Now: 90% separate house (owned or mortgaged) 4.4% semi-detached, terrace, townhouse 4.7% unit, apartment, flat When 70: 56% expected to be in same home 36% expected to be somewhere else 8.5% don t know 52% separate house 7 % semi-detached, terrace, townhouse 17.6% unit, apartment, flat 9% retirement village or lifestyle village Remainder refused, don t know or other
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION (WHO LIVING WITH)
WHERE LOCATED AT 70 37% 26.5% 9.5% 5.2% same area same city, different area different city, region interstate 12.5% said they might move to Adelaide inner city
WHY PREFER TO MOVE FROM CURRENT DWELLING?
WHY PREFER TO STAY IN CURRENT DWELLING?
EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
20% expect to be in workforce at age 70
PREFERRED AGE FOR RETIREMENT 80% of sample specified an age (82% < 65; 12% 66-70) 7% didn t want to retire 12.4% had never worked Preferred retirement pattern: 23% wanted to stop work completely 46% phased withdrawal 6.1% never retire 6.1% start new business/career 13% already completely retired 70% expected to do some kind of volunteer work
WHY LEAVE WORKFORCE PREMATURELY?
VOLUNTEERING AND CARING
VOLUNTEERING & CARING 70% (854) Anticipate doing voluntary work at 70 12.8% Undecided; 16.2% no Work or family commitments, ill-health or disinterest given as reasons for not volunteering 23.3% didn t know or hadn t thought about why they wouldn t volunteer
TYPES OF VOLUNTARY WORK ANTICIPATED
CARING Who, if anyone, do you expect to provide care for when you re 70? No one 60% Spouse/partner 14.5% Own child/ren 2.1% Grand child/ren.6% Friend or neighbour 1.2% Parent/s in law 10.3% Other relative <65 3.5% Other relative >65 2.6% Don t know 8.3%
USE OF INTERNET
USE OF INTERNET 72% - yes, the same or more than at present 10% - yes, less than now 12% - no Where 95% use at home 5% use at library 14% on iphone or ipad Why 85% browsing for general interest 42% entertainment/amusement on-line 84% email, communication 56% shopping, 67% banking 34% on-line social networking
USE OF SERVICES
USE OF SERVICES
MOST USEFUL LOCAL COUNCIL SERVICES
CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE (OPEN ENDED) Only about 32% specified concerns (~67% didn t know) Health concerns, including access to quality care (28.5%) Financial concerns, including cost of living, living on pension, paying for health insurance (27%) Transport (4%) no concerns (31%)
CONCLUSIONS Most expect to retire by 65, but 20% expect to work beyond age of 70 70% expect to do some voluntary work > 70 60% expect to have caring responsibilities Council Service use Most wanted: library, transport, help with housework or gardening, personal care or domestic help, community centres, healthy lifestyle programs 80% Didn t want any new services at 70 Health-related ones were specified Baby boomers do not see lives at 70 as being greatly different to their lives at present
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SAAARC DFEEST Data Collection and Initial Analyses: All 3 SA Universities LGA DFC (then OFTA) Public Health and Clinical Systems, SA Health Integrated Design Commission KeyInvest Retirement Villages COTA (In Kind) Population Research and Outcome Studies
FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.COTASA.ORG.AU http://www.cotasa.org.au/aspx/baby_boomers_survey.aspx Baby Boomers Look Ahead: 2012 Survey Results In March 2012 over 1200 South Australians born between 1945 and 1964 were asked about their lives and their future. The Baby Boomers Survey asked people about all aspects of their lives and collected information about their present circumstances and their perceptions of how things will be when they are around 70 years old. Using random sampling methods and a broad-ranging questionnaire, it is the first survey of its type to be conducted in Australia. The findings will inform planning and policy development processes in government, industry and the community. You can find out more about this project in the following documents: Description of Main Findings prepared by Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO (August 2012) Analytical Report Volume 1: Variables by Sex and Region (July 2012) Analytical Report Volume 2: Variables by Age Cohort (July 2012) Baby Boomer Questionnaire (March 2012) The research was conducted by South Australian Active Ageing Research Cluster (SAAARC) with the assistance of the Population Research and Outcomes Studies, University of Adelaide and Harrison Health Research. SAAARC members are researchers on ageing from the three SA universities, COTA SA and the SA Government Office for the Ageing. The research was funded by several SA government agencies, the Local Government Association and two industry-related organisations. For more information about the project, contact COTA SA.