Affordability, transport two key issues for older regional residents

Experiencing a sea or tree change in your older years is a dream for many, but a new report is shining a light on some major issues for older South Australians living in regional areas.

Donna and Steve Williams on their houseboat in Mannum which is where they live full-time. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

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Improved lifestyle and affordability are reasons often cited by people choosing to move to regional areas in their later years but a new report has shone a light on the challenges facing older rural residents.

Council on the Ageing SA has released its inaugural Ageing in Country South Australiareport which found about 2500 older householders were experiencing housing stress, spending more than a third of their income on housing expenses.

COTA – the peak advocacy group for people aged over 50 – surveyed more than 400 people, finding that many were worried about a lack of support in regional communities, COTA SA chief executive Jane Mussared said.

“There is a danger in assuming that people ageing in regional areas do so on the same terms and under the same circumstances as those in metropolitan areas,” she said.

“More than one quarter of South Australians aged over 50 live in regional SA, and face unique challenges compared to their metropolitan counterparts.”

Ms Mussared said older people told COTA they felt a “strong connection” with their community, but a worrying number of people COTA spoke to were living in precarious financial circumstances.

Among them a couple who had lost their superannuation and savings in a failed rural business and had to live in a house owned by their children.

Ms Mussared predicted mobility scooters would become the default mode of transport in regional townships due to limited public transport and taxi services, which have “ceased completely” in some towns.

“Gophers are becoming a common sight in regional communities, however physical barries, such as unpaved footpaths and stairs without ramps, are limiting their safe use and access to essential services,” she said.

Murraylands residents Donna and Steve Williams, both in their 60s, have lived on a houseboat since 2016 after moving from Adelaide.

“We have no council rates and no garden to worry about, we both love it,” Mrs Williams said.