“It’s a wellbeing thing” – understanding how socially isolated older people perceive and contribute to their own wellbeing

The policy and service delivery challenges arising from Australia’s ageing population are manifold. It is estimated that by 2056 between 23 to 25 per cent of Australia’s population will be aged over 65 (ABS, 2008). This means pressure on existing services as demand grows; pressure for more flexible and diverse services; an increasing preference for community care; and growing pressure on the general workforce as more workers retire and specifically on the labour needs of the aged care workforce.