The relentless aging of the population will pose serious economic and social challenges for Australia, where the number of very old people (aged 85 and over) is expected to increase from around 400,000 in 2010 to 1.8 million by 2050.
The Muslim community is particularly vulnerable to this growing demographic trend. This does not sit well with residential aged care facilities (RACs) such as those in more established communities.
Complicating the situation are economic and family constraints that make it more difficult for the elderly to stay at home and leave them for institutionalized care.
Caring for the elderly in the South West Sydney region was a key focus of a community forum organized by Auwal Care Inc on Sunday 4 August 2024 at the Carnes Hill Activity Center in Liverpool, attended by around 25 opinion leaders.
“Without an Islamic environment, I have seen many elderly people who are lonely and socially isolated and struggle to get Halal food. Surely, they deserve to spend their last days on this earth with dignity with like-minded people,” said Imam Mohammad Amian Ahmad, a cleric and social educator.
“Though Islam enjoins the younger members of the family to take care of the elderly, this is not always possible for various reasons. Care is inevitably outsourced to a company,” says Sheikh Amian. „Muslim-run RACs provide an effective safety net and arguably higher standard of care in these circumstances, and it also caters to vulnerable people who may be abused by family carers.”
Registered nurse Shabana Jasmin Buksh said, “Advances in medical science are helping people live longer, but this comes with increased frailties and comorbidities; Caring for the elderly at home is becoming increasingly complex.
The forum heard that traditionally the burden of care has fallen heavily on the female members of the family, which is not adequately recognized by society. This burden is only going to increase with the aging of the population, and we need to put in place support mechanisms to help our caregivers, such as temporary respite facilities.
Auwal’s research indicates that the demand for independent living units (apartments and villas) for seniors will increase in the future with the reduction of Islamic community and shelters. But the immediate priority is RAC.
The number of +70-year-olds in the South West Sydney region is expected to exceed 16,000 by 2041, according to Oval Care’s modelling. “Auwal Care wants to collaborate with other organizations and community networks to ensure that older Muslims have access to quality home care and RAC. Meet their spiritual and cultural needs,” says Haji Imam Ali, director of non-profit charity Auwal Care Inc.