All villages should adopt positive ageing strategies

Retirement villages are uniquely positioned to transform into a one-stop shop on the continuum of care so older Australians can keep ageing in place and ageing well, says Retirement Living Council executive director Daniel Gannon.

“This is crucial as significant demographic changes sweep across Australia – our country is ageing rapidly, and the appropriate systems, facilities and infrastructure must be in place to meet this need.

“By providing easier access to services – like allied health, physical rehabilitation and restorative care – retirement villages can improve health and independence for residents through preventative care,” Mr Gannon told Communtiy Care Review.

The flow-on positive impacts will reduce hospitalisations and delay the need for aged care, said Mr Gannon who is advocating for all retirement villages in Australia to adopt positive ageing strategies.

“Without a doubt, this will become a necessity for all retirement villages because positive ageing strategies must be the norm, not the exception.

“These strategies underpin the residents experience and help older Australians maintain independence and quality of life as they get older. Given the average age of a resident living in one of these communities is 81, there’s never been a more important time to embed positive ageing.”

Event focuses on how to embed allied health

Mr Gannon will deliver this message – and what’s at stake if we don’t act – at the Positive Ageing Summit, which takes place in Adelaide on 28-29 May to empower participants to achieve better outcomes for older people through collaboration and evidence-based strategies.

The two-day event features over 30 leaders taking to the stage to share their expertise and experiences of delivering and embedding allied health and reablement services for older people.

Mr Gannon is appearing on a panel on day 2 looking at how the retirement living sector and environment can drive healthier, more independent ageing.

He’ll be joined by Southern Cross Care SA, NT & VIC chief executive officer David Moran – who recently told CCR about the importance of educating the population on the benefits of reablement, building strength, using allied health, regular exercise and meaningful engagement.

“The more understanding, access and support people have to use these services, the longer they can remain living at home with good health and wellbeing,” Mr Moran told CCR.

Fellow panellist Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman – a physiotherapist, accredited exercise physiologist and research lead at HUR Australia – agrees. And that’s why she’d also like all retirement village providers to promote exercise, reablement and wellbeing for residents.

“Research evidence shows that appropriate exercise can increase healthy longevity, enhance physical function, and prevent lifestyle-related chronic diseases, such as cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal and neurological conditions,” said Dr Karaharju-Huisman – who has a PhD in biomechanics.

“Whilst we can’t stop chronological and physiological ageing, we can change how we age. With appropriate exercise we can live almost a decade longer and healthier, adding life to our years rather than just years to our life,” she said.

On transforming retirement villages into active ageing hubs, Dr Karaharju-Huisman said start with developing an active ageing culture.

“Creating a village that believes in active ageing; a site where every resident is encouraged to exercise, a site where the village manager, allied health and lifestyle teams, together with all residents create an inclusive space where every person is encouraged to join in.”

A dedicated exercise space with a well selected equipment can be the heart of a successful village, said Dr Karaharju-Huisman, but she stressed a well-fitted gym was suitable for everyone, from experienced users in good health to those who have never exercised. Research shows the key to a better health span is resistance training, Dr Karaharju-Huisman emphasised.

“Whilst cardiovascular exercise and running have previously been seen as the core of health and wellbeing, we now know that muscles matter. The older we get, the more important it is to include strength training in our exercise routine. Muscles don’t just allow us to move, they also play an important role in maintaining health. 

“Research has shown that muscles have a direct liaison to many functions beyond locomotion, such as metabolic rate, glucose metabolism, cognition, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels.”

She said allied health professionals were key partners in the design and implementation of active ageing strategies for aged care and retirement living providers.

“We desperately need allied health not just to support people in their best exercise path, but also to educate every resident on the importance of appropriate exercise, and the long-term health benefits that can be gained.”

Mr Gannon added that positive ageing strategies must influence and shape the culture of retirement villages and the services they provide to create whole-of-system change where vibrant communities encourage older Australians to thrive, not just live.

“Fortunately, this work is already well underway, and research shows retirement village residents are 41 per cent happier, 15 per cent more physically active, twice as likely to catch up with family and friends, and they experience reduced levels of loneliness and depression.

“Every retirement village has enormous potential to go further and foster healthy and fulfilling ageing – it’s the standard we must all aim for,” Mr Gannon told CCR.

Positive Ageing Summit is an initiative of Australian Ageing Agenda and Community Care Review – find out more on the Positive Ageing Summit 2025 website or book your individual and group-discounted tickets here