Positive Ageing Strategy Hunter (PASH): Stage 1 - research report

In the Hunter area, the population is ageing faster than the total NSW population. The Positive Ageing Strategy Hunter (PASH) has been developed by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (Hunter Region) in conjunction with a multi-disciplinary advisory committee. PASH is based on a philosophy of early intervention and prevention to enable older people to continue to play an active role in the community and to enjoy good health and the many benefits of being an older person. The research outlined in this report has involved an extensive review of the literature on ageing, a content analysis of the Social Plans developed by Local Government, an audit of the existing facilities and services designed for older people in each Local Government Area and a series of focus groups with local older people to ascertain their views on and experiences of ageing in the Hunter. The report provides the background required to develop a strategy which addresses the issue of positive ageing in the Hunter. It identifies ten priority issues: employment and training; lifelong learning; retirement planning; volunteering; physical activity; health; the caring role; the community setting; community participation; and information.