Care Across the Lifespan

Improving the health of older Australians

The ageing of our population means more services and support are needed to help older Australians enjoy a better quality of life.


This priority area has been assessed against available services in our region. We consider service gaps in relation to these needs, and you can view services funded by the PHN through the PHN Services Library. This includes information about the PHN's Care finder program, which specifically targets senior Australians with additional challenges who need intensive support and could otherwise fall through the cracks.


Opportunities

Information and education for healthcare workers is one of the main ways we help to improve services for our ageing population.


Potential focus areas include:

  • resources and training for regional staff, to help them better understand dementia and its symptoms, and to more effectively work with people with dementia and their carers
  • culturally appropriate resources for end-of-life planning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • information about carer supports and how they can be accessed
  • regional palliative care services, including developing pilot programs in identified regional areas
  • an aged care strategy for the region
  • collaborating with key peak bodies to identify gaps that our PHN can fill


Collaborative partners     

  • Hospital and Health Services
  • Local Governments
  • Peak bodies and service partners
  • Accreditation and training agencies
  • Residential Aged Care Facilities
  • Aged & Community Services Australia
  • Council on the Ageing.


The outcomes of these actions will be seen in:

  • reduced wait times for residential and other forms of aged care
  • increased participation in end-of-life planning.


Our progress

The number of people aged 65 and older in the region has increased rapidly, with more than 90,000 people in this cohort, however the number of residential aged care services has not matched this growth.


As our population ages, more support will be needed, including residential care, dementia support and end-of-life care.

There is also a strong desire for older Australians to receive care to help them continue living at home.


Breaking down the insights


Related priorities



Ageing

The proportion of Australians aged 65 and older continues to grow. The ageing of the population creates both pressures and opportunities for health and wellbeing in our region (Queensland Government Statisticians' Office 2021; DDWMPHN 2022a).


Our area of focus

Our region has a similar proportion of older people to the rest of Queensland and Australia, but this proportion is growing at a very fast rate. We currently have a relatively lower number of residential aged care places available.


Evidence

  • Latest census figures indicate that there are more than 90,000 older Australians (aged 65 years and over) living in the region. The number is expected to double by 2036 (Queensland Government Statisticians' Office 2021).
  • The proportion of older Australians in the region is similar to that for all of Queensland in recent figures (17% of the population compared with 17% for Queensland in 2022) (PHIDU 2025).  
  • Regional areas that had a higher proportion of older Australians are the Southern Downs (26% of the population), South Burnett (26%) and Scenic Rim (23%) (PHIDU 2025).  
  • Mobility and disability‑related concerns continue to affect access to care for our older people. Residents reported additional barriers, including long wait times for services and affordability issues, with around 38% of the community saying that the cost of care and reduced availability of bulk billing make access more difficult (DDWMPHN 2022c; DDWMPHN 2025b). 
  • Continuing to live at home remains a high priority for our older community, with 38% identifying the need for regular, consistent in‑home support to help them stay at home as they age (DDWMPHN 2022c; DDWMPHN 2025b).
  • In 2023, the region had 64.6 residential care places per 1,000 population aged 70 years and over. The rate for all of Queensland was a little higher at around 69.9, and for all of Australia the number of these places was 71.9 (PHIDU 2025).

Dementia

Symptoms of dementia can include memory problems, increasing confusion, reduced concentration, personality or behavioural changes, and depression. The support of families, friends and carers is important when managing the condition.


Our area of focus

The region has an increasing number of people living with dementia, including those with early onset dementia, but appropriate services and workforce are limited.


Evidence

  • In 2021, 0.7 per 100 people reported had a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzeimers, which the same as that for Australia, and slightly below the rate for Queensland which was 0.8 per 100 people in that year (PHIDU 2025).
  • Evidence suggests that social isolation and feelings of loneliness are associated with an increased risk of dementia (Lazzari & Rabottini 2021).
  • Dementia (which includes Alzheimer’s disease) was the second leading cause of death across the region in 2023 (AIHW 2023).  Healthcare professionals confirmed these concerns, identifying social isolation as the top issue (55%), followed by dementia (53%). In addition, around 28% of the community have said that memory and mental health are growing concerns (DDWMPHN 2025b).
  • Dementia affects younger people too, and more research is needed in that area than is currently available.

End-of-life and palliative care

Near the end of a person’s life, it is important that the person is involved as much as possible in decision-making about their care. These discussions should take place before they become too frail or ill to participate. Psychological, emotional and spiritual issues are as important as physical health in both end-of-life planning and in palliative care. 


The Palliative Care Services Review found that palliative care can improve the quality of life for around three in four people. Having palliative care available in the home or community of the patient can help to manage demand for higher-intensity care in many locations (Rome et al.2011). Our PHN's Health Needs Assessment - Palliative Care (2026) provides further detail about palliative care in our region. 


Our area of focus

Improving access to palliative and end of life care across our diverse region, particularly for rural communities and priority populations. We are focused on building a skilled and confident palliative care workforce, strengthening coordination between services, and supporting people to receive high quality care in the place that best meets their needs.


Evidence

  • Our region is growing rapidly, with the population expected to increase by 40% by 2041 (since 2023). By 2030, adults aged 65 and older will make up 18% of the region’s population (DDWMPHN 2025a). This growth will significantly increase the need for palliative and end of life care, with the average age of people accessing these services being around 70.
  • Demand for specialist palliative care is projected to rise by 44% in Darling Downs and 52% in West Moreton by 2026–27 (Queensland Health 2019).
  • Palliative care hospitalisation rates in our region are higher than the Queensland and national averages, and some rural communities have no 24/7 support for homebased end of life care (DDWMPHN 2025a).
  • This higher level of need is reflected in above‑average prescribing of palliative‑care pain medicines, including opioids, as hospital‑based care often manages more serious symptoms and later referrals (DDWMPHN 2025a).
  • Nationally, only 35% of adults are aware of advance care planning, and just 6% have an advance care directive (DDWMPHN 2025a).

People with additional challenges

By working with older Australians across our region, we learn more about their healthcare needs to shape the development of integrated and coordinated primary healthcare pathways, which will result in better clinical decision-making and improved health outcomes. 


People and communities more likely to experience complex care needs include culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQ+, cognitive impairment, low reading or health literacy (including digital literacy), forgotten Australians, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness.


Our area of focus

Older Australians in our region are diverse, and some are not connected to the care they need. Their attitudes and beliefs in relation to mental, social and emotional, physical, economic, and cultural wellbeing are influenced by their life experiences.


Evidence

  • Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) older Australians in our region had a profound disability in recent reporting of 2021 figures (PHIDU 2025).
  • A high proportion of older Australians in our region have one or two chronic conditions, ranging between 59% and 68% across our communities (DDWMPHN 2022c).
  • Vulnerable populations reside in many communities across our region, including rural and urban areas. It is important to consider geographic diversity when developing programs that seek to connect older Australians to the care they need.
  • Residents described services as complex and difficult to navigate (particularly for people with vision impairment or low confidence using technology) and called for more support to help older Australians connect with available services. Our older multicultural communities also found care harder to reach because of language barriers (DDWMPHN 2025b).
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