80-plus age group the fastest growing

MICHAEL FORBES

The "silver tsunami" washing over New Zealand is set to triple in size over the next four decades.

Population figures released by Statistics New Zealand yesterday revealed those aged over 80 were the fastest-growing age group, and numbers would exceed more than 500,000 by 2050, compared with 160,000 now.

The 80-plus age group is growing at about twice the rate of those aged over 65, and about four times the rate of the total population 20 years ago.

One out of every seven New Zealanders, or 605,800 of us, is now over 65. Last year, there were only 582,700 in that age group, and half a century ago, only 200,000.

Gaynor Duff, interim national director for Alzheimer's New Zealand, said age-related illnesses such as dementia were expected to increase to "epidemic" proportions as the population aged.

Today there were about 44,000 recorded cases of dementia in New Zealand. That number was set to double every 20 years to an estimated 146,699 cases in 2050, she said.

"Currently around half of all New Zealanders with dementia live with family carers, many of whom are providing around-the-clock care with little or no government support."

There was already a worrying shortage of dementia beds and a "huge" lack of funded community services of people with dementia and their carers in this country, Ms Duff said.

Grey Power national president Roy Reid said the latest population figures were yet another reminder that the Government should be thinking seriously about the sustainability of superannuation.

More:
80-plus age group the fastest growing