Many in retirement are travelling comfortably, with three key factors contributing to their happiness – good physical and mental health and enough money to enjoy life.
Perhaps the assumption that markets are still anchored by predictable economic policies needs to be challenged. For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political volatility – once background noise – is potentially reshaping investment risk at a structural level.
Cost of dental care forcing seniors to delay treatment: ADA
Nearly two-thirds of Australians aged 65 and over are delaying seeking dental treatment, according to a new research study by the Australian Dental Association (ADA).
The annual ADA study, based on a survey of 25,000 people, found that affordability was the main reason, with 64 per cent of over-65s delaying dental trips in the past year because they couldn’t afford it.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of this age group reported debilitating oral issues including recent tooth or gum pain, mouth or face swelling, or a mouth infection, compared with 36 per cent of the rest of the community.
Further, seniors make fewer trips to the dentist than the rest of the population, with 37 per cent of seniors visiting every two to five years compared with 35 per cent of other age groups and 23 per cent of seniors visiting every five years compared with 20 per cent of other age groups.
“These findings provide a clear picture of what’s happening to the mouths of thousands of Australians over 65,” says ADA president Chris Sanzaro. “They can’t get to the dentist regularly because they can’t afford it and so their mouths become a battleground of pain and infection management.
“Some end up in the emergency departments — the ADA has found that 16,000 seniors were admitted to hospital for treatment of painful dental issues in 2022-23, a figure that is expected to rise to 22,630 by 2027-28, representing a 42 per cent increase from an already unacceptable level. It’s a health trend that worsens by the year.”
In light of this study, as well as others documenting the declining oral health of senior Australians, two advocacy organisations for older people — COTA Australia and National Seniors Australia (NSA) — are urging political parties to announce the introduction of a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme before the election.
“The number of older Australians skipping vital dental treatment because they can’t afford it is ridiculously high,” says COTA Australia chief executive Patricia Sparrow. “Good oral health is important for people of every age, and we know people across the board are struggling with the cost, but as we get older the stakes get higher.
“Evidence shows that poor dental health increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and chronic malnutrition in older people, as well as embarrassment and social isolation. Older Australians are putting their health at real risk because they’re nervous they can’t afford to pay for the treatment they need.”
Ms Sparrow says COTA Australia has long advocated for a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme to ensure that everyone can get access to dental care. “Every Australian, no matter what their age, should be looking at these statistics and asking their politicians why we don’t have a scheme.”
The NSA wants this dental scheme to provide $500 a year towards interventions to improve oral health outcomes among older people based on the existing Child Dental Benefit Scheme.
Initially, the scheme should target older people with limited means, including aged-care residents, before expanding to other groups,” says NSA chief executive officer Chris Grice.
“If eligibility was restricted to a subset of pensioners on low means using the proposed Pensioner Concession Card and about 500,000 pensioners were eligible for the new card, the cost to government would be only $250 million a year,” he says.
Grice concurs with COTA Australia in noting that older people are more likely to have poor oral health, especially those with low socio-economic status and those living in residential aged care.
“Older people who cannot afford private dental care must rely on public dental services, which can involve being placed on lengthy wait lists,” he says. “As people get older and increasingly frail, the ability to adhere to good oral health practices can decline dramatically.”
