3.2 POPULATION AGEING

Forty-four RDA committees reported that their population was ageing. Various economic and welfare challenges were associated with an ageing population. The potential impacts included an increased demand for aged care services, health care, transport and community infrastructure, as well as a shrinking labour force which may exacerbate labour shortages. Many RDA committees, such as the Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula RDA, reported that the ageing population would increase demand for “a variety of specialist housing types including retirement housing and independent and supported aged-care facilities” (RDA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula, 2011, pp. 165-166).