Why This Matters
Across Australia, more and more people want to live independently as they age — staying connected to their families, friends, and neighbourhoods. As our population gets older, it’s time to ask: how can we make that possible for everyone?
The good news is, other countries have already found some great answers. Places like Sweden, the Netherlands, and Japan have built strong community care systems that help older people stay at home longer, with the support they need to live well. Australia’s own aged care reforms — including the new Support at Home program — can learn a lot from these examples.
Sweden: Local Care That Works for Everyone
In Sweden, care for older people is organised locally — by each of the country’s 290 councils (municipalities). They’re responsible for deciding what support each person needs and making sure it’s available close to home.
Here’s what makes their approach stand out:
- Care for all: It’s based on need, not income, so everyone has access to help.
- Affordable: Fees are capped so no one pays more than they can afford.
- Local focus: Each community can shape services that suit local people.
- High satisfaction: Almost nine out of ten Swedes say they’re happy with their home care.
What Australia can learn:
When care is organised close to home — and backed by steady funding — people can stay independent longer. But like Australia, Sweden faces challenges such as staff shortages and differences in quality between regions, showing why national coordination also matters.
The Netherlands: Nurses and Neighbours Working Together
In the Netherlands, care is built around trust and teamwork. The best-known example is Buurtzorg (which means “care in the neighbourhood”). Instead of large agencies, small self-managed teams of professional nurses look after people in their own communities.
Their results are impressive:
- Fewer care hours, better outcomes: People get the right help, when they need it.
- Less red tape: Nurses make the decisions, not layers of managers.
- Community spirit: Families and neighbours are part of the care network.
What Australia can learn:
Smaller, local teams can deliver more personal, flexible care — especially if nurses and carers are empowered to make decisions. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best innovation comes from trusting professionals and communities themselves.
Japan: Coordinating Care for an Ageing Nation
Japan is home to one of the world’s oldest populations — and one of the smartest care systems. Since 2000, all citizens over 40 contribute to a Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) scheme, which funds a wide range of services.
- Care coordinators: Local experts help families navigate the system.
- Comprehensive services: From home nursing to day care and rehabilitation.
- Positive results: Communities that use integrated care models have cut costs by 20% and helped more people stay home, even at the end of life.
What Australia can learn:
Japan shows how coordinated, well-funded care can work — and why having a single person (a care coordinator) helping families connect services makes such a difference.
What This Means for Australia
These three countries prove that ageing well at home isn’t just a dream — it’s achievable with the right community support. For Australia, that means:
- Creating local community care hubs where health, social, and support services work together.
- Introducing care navigators or coordinators to help people find and manage their care.
- Building strong local teams, similar to Buurtzorg, that know their communities.
- Ensuring care is fair and affordable no matter where you live.
When care is connected, funded fairly, and delivered locally, older Australians can live with more independence, dignity, and choice — and families can feel more supported too.
A Thought to Leave You With-
“When care is close to home, independence grows.”
“The best care connects people, services, and community.”
Together, we can build a future where ageing well at home isn’t just a policy goal — it’s a shared community promise.
Ageing in Place Workshops are here!
From September to November 2025, join us to explore how we can make ageing a journey worth celebrating.
Share your ideas, connect with others, and shape the future of ageing in your community.
Express your interest here — let’s create a future we can all look forward to.”
