Working with, and for, our seniors: Is local government leisure provision keeping up with the ageing population?

Abstract

It is a fact that the population throughout the world is aging rapidly, but there is continuing emphasis on youth, peak fitness and magnificent facilities for elite sportsmen and women, as witnessed in the 200 Olympic Games in Sydney and the increased funding in Australia for elite sportspeople as a result of that successful event. Currently, an older person is considered to be someone over age 60 years of age, and there is an enormous available, and potential, pool of cash-rich and time-rich consumers which appears to receive little consideration. This paper discusses whether developers and managers of facilities, services and programs - particularly in local government, but also in private enterprise - are aware of the market and providing sufficient real resources for older members of society. Australia is used as a case study, but some worldwide trends are also examined.