SENIOR citizens will make up more than 20 per cent of Bathurst’s population by 2031, according to recently released projections.
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People who are 65 years of age or older made up 13.7 per cent of the Bathurst population in 2011.
However projections released by the Department of Planning and Environment show that by 2031, the number of senior citizens will have increased by 96.36 per cent, to make up 21 per cent of the Bathurst population.
The significant increase in senior citizens will see more pressure placed on aged care services, which are already in great demand.
Bathurst Seymour Centre manager Terisa Ashworth said it was vital for the Department of Planning and Environment and Bathurst Regional Council to make projections so they could plan for future demand. She said the Seymour Centre, which provides day care for senior citizens and respite for carers, had become increasingly busy in recent years.
“There has been an increase in demand for our services over the years,” she said.
“One of the reasons is because people are living longer, but also carers are often working and getting older and some have their own grandchildren they need to take care of.”
Ms Ashworth said there was strong demand for more residential aged care services, but also demand for day services as more people were choosing to stay at home for longer.
“There is strong demand for programs which give people skills and assistance to stay living at home for longer,” she said.
Ms Ashworth said while the centre does not have a waiting list at present, it had in the past.
Brian Stewart, who has been attending the centre for more than a year, said it was important to have adequate services for elderly residents.
“I had to wait my turn to get in here because it was very popular,” he said. “It is good because you can just come down and do what you want to do, meet other people and take part in different activities.”
Mr Stewart said there were good services in Bathurst for elderly residents and said it was important for Bathurst to continue to have enough services available for the increasing elderly population.