As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, more Australians are entering into aged care facilities, with over a quarter-million people relying on residential care options.
Of those numbers, 64% are women, while men account for 47%, meaning 2 in 3 people in aged care are women.
With better access to medical and care resources, why do women dominate the aged care sector?
In 2017, older people accounted for 15% of Australia’s total population, which is expected to rise 21-23% by 2066, increasing the gender imbalance.
While the average life expectancy for women is 85, men average 80 years, leaving a small but inexplicable gap.
The answer could lie in biological and behavioural aspects thanks to the morbidity-mortality paradox, meaning women get sicker but live longer.
For example, women experience more non-fatal illnesses like arthritis, while men are more likely to experience fatal illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
Other behavioural aspects impacting men include poor exercise and diet options leading to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
The result is an aged care industry dominated by older women in residential care accommodation.
While 1 in 9 women in aged care homes are over 95, only 1 in 17 men are over 95 years.
Residential aged care is the only option for many older Australians who can no longer live at home and require 24-hour care, and as the industry becomes more women-focused, men are being left behind.
Do you know anyone in aged care?
What do you think about the gender gap in care services?
