Advocare hears every day from older people, as resilient as they are and have been in the past, that they are having to make hard choices to make ends meet.
We recently surveyed more than 130 older people to help us understand the main pressure points when it comes to managing cost of living. Almost half of respondents (46%) lived alone, while a further 34% lived with a partner, offering valuable insight into how rising costs are affecting different household types.
Essential costs continue to rise
Participants identified groceries as the expense that had increased most significantly, with 65% ranking food costs as their greatest financial concern. Electricity and gas costs were the next most common pressure, identified by 25% of respondents.
What became clear was that the impact of these rising costs is forcing many older people to make difficult choices. Nearly one in five (19%) reported buying cheaper food or skipping meals to reduce expenses, while 14% said they had cut back on heating, cooling, or hot water usage to manage household budgets. For an older person, living in the regions who may have to travel a distance to the supermarket for food, costs are further impacted by higher transport or fuel costs.
One respondent commented: “Food and transport costs are the biggest factors – local shops are 131km from where I live.”
Support needed where it matters most
When we asked what assistance would make the greatest difference, respondents overwhelmingly identified support with energy and utility bills as the highest priority (43%). This was followed by food assistance (21%) and help with medical expenses (16%).
These findings point to the growing strain that the cost of essential goods and services is placing on many older Western Australians, particularly those on fixed or limited incomes.
Some key comments that create a snapshot of what’s happening for older people included:
“Help with energy [bills]. I have to keep warm or I can’t move. [It] is very difficult these days”
“Help with medical costs: Health insurance and specialist fees are a considerable burden.”
“Cheaper transport to get to social activities so I don’t feel so lonely and isolated.”
Service providers under pressure
The survey also captured the perspectives of organisations supporting older people. Respondents were evenly represented across the community services, pharmacy and health, and aged care sectors.
Among these organisations, 43% provided services within the Perth metropolitan area, and 63% delivered services to older people, daily. Many reported increasing funding pressures while simultaneously supporting clients experiencing greater financial hardship. Organisations noticed that older people are increasingly opting out of non-essential services, contracts, or plans due to budget constraints.
Service providers also have seen growing demand for case management support and declining visitor numbers, highlighting the increasing complexity of client needs and the pressure on already stretched resources.
A clear message
The findings from the data we received from the Seniors Budget-wise Survey presents a clear picture of the challenges facing older Western Australians. Rising costs associated with food, utilities, healthcare, and everyday living expenses continue to place considerable pressure on household budgets. While both individuals and service providers are adapting where possible, the results reinforce the need for targeted support to help older people live safely, independently, and with dignity in their communities.
If you’d like to learn more about the survey or about Advocare’s work as WA’s Seniors Peak Body email: seniorspeak@advocare.org.au
