Not surprisingly, the rising cost of living was high on the agenda, with members highlighting the impact of fuel prices, and how these pressures are affecting older people across the state. Find out what else was talked about, and learn about our new cost-of-living survey.
Housing was another major focus, particularly the challenges many older people face when trying to downsize or find more suitable, affordable housing. Members felt that while housing supply and first home buyers often receive attention, older people need greater support and incentives to make housing decisions earlier and avoid insecurity later in life.
The group discussed the important role of carers and the frustrations they can face when dealing with different services, forms and systems. A ‘Carers Passport’ model was raised as one way to improve recognition of carers and reduce repetitive, time-consuming processes.
Members highlighted the additional challenges faced by people living in rural and regional communities, where policies and services were often designed from a city-centric perspective. Housing insecurity, homelessness and the increased risk faced by older people experiencing family and domestic violence were all raised as growing concerns.
Transport was another key topic, especially access to identification for the older person after surrendering a driver’s licence, as well as banking barriers and fraud protections.
Members also welcomed the idea of ‘Older Adult Health Hubs’, a potential place to offer more than clinical care, with better navigation, local partnerships, transport links and early support for older people and carers.
Thanks once again to COTA WA’s CEO Mark Kinsella for supporting the Consumer Reference Group with secretarial support over its past three meetings.
Read the full, latest Communiqué here or on our website: 8 May 2026.
Join seniors’ speaking up
If you’re keen to have your say too, Advocare has since launched a survey for older people and organisations working with older people to better understand how older people are managing.
Read about Advocare’s Being Budget-wise Survey here.
