COTA SA welcomes the release of COTA Australia’s 2025 State of the Older Nation (SOTON) report, which powerfully reinforces what we hear from older South Australians every day.

COTA SA Chief Executive Miranda Starke says there is clear alignment between the findings of SOTON and COTA SA’s Voices of Older South Australians: Evidence and insights into the state of ageing in South Australia, which COTA SA launched late last year.

“One of the key findings of the SOTON report is the debunking of the persistent myth of the “wealthy older Australian”, a finding that echoes what we consistently hear at COTA SA,” Miranda said.

“While many older people tell us they see ageing as a positive stage of life, marked by greater freedom, autonomy and time to invest in health, learning, friendships and family, an increasing number also say that life is becoming harder for them.”

Key findings include:

• SOTON found that nearly half of older Australians (48%) surveyed believe conditions are worsening for people aged 50 and over, primarily due to rising cost-of-living pressures and limited access to health and aged care services. This data is in line with the Voices report, which showed that almost half (44%) of older South Australians, feel that things are getting worse for people aged 50+. Older South Australians also highlight cost-of-living pressures, access to health care and navigating the aged care systems as their top three concerns that impact their ability to age well, aligning with the key issues highlighted in SOTON.
• The SOTON report found that ageism is a major barrier that impacts overall wellbeing and outcomes for older Australians, especially in work and service settings. 38% of SOTON respondents reporting experiencing one or more types of ageism in 2025. Complementing these findings, our Voices report revealed that ageism weighs especially heavily on the ‘missing middle’, those aged 50 to 66, who are navigating rising cost‑of‑living pressures with limited access to resources and support. This age cohort report experiencing ageism showing up through reduced employment and earning opportunities, challenges in securing mortgages, and the long‑term financial impacts of time spent out of the workforce in caring roles.
• The SOTON report shows that cost is the most common barrier for older people who struggle to access healthcare services, with 56% citing affordability as the primary reason they cannot get the support they need. This aligns closely with what we heard in the Voices report, where many older South Australians described ongoing challenges in accessing both mental and physical healthcare.

Voices report participants emphasised that financial hardship compounds these access issues, often forcing them to delay or forgo preventative care, specialist appointments, or even emergency medical treatment. Older South Australians who identified as financially insecure were almost twice as likely to report finding it very difficult to access healthcare (43%) compared with those who felt financially secure (24%). Together, the SOTON and Voices findings highlight how cost, not just as a standalone barrier but as part of broader financial stress, significantly restricts older people’s ability to engage with essential services and maintain their health.

Miranda emphasised the significance of the two reports in sharing the lived experiences of older Australians: “The alignment between the SOTON findings and our own Voices insights offers a powerful evidence-base for future planning across government, and a clear call to action for our community to better understand and value the experiences of older Australians.”

“This evidence supports the set of recommendations we will soon release for political parties ahead of the March state election.”