Assisting families with ageing-related relationship issues

This discussion article explores Relationship Australia’s service response to the ageing of Australia’s population.  Relationship Australia trialled its Elder Relationship Service in response to a significant problem arising from the ageing of Australia’s population: conflict within families around ageing-related issues.

Key messages:

• As the population ages, families are dealing more and more with issues such as caring for elderly relatives and end-of-life decisions.
• These issues can cause conflict and even place elderly people at risk of violence and abuse.
• In response to the growing need of families with ageing related issues, in 2016 Relationships Australia piloted the Elder Relationship Services Pilot Program.
• The program has shown promise; however, it was found that client fees alone would not be sufficient to fund it: additional funding is needed.

Read further details on the report on the Australian Institute of Family Studies website.