The Lord Mayor said the Taskforce would review the town plan and industry requirements to find ways to establish retirement and aged-care homes in each ward, and closer to the CBD.

Cr Newman said the Taskforce would address an increasingly tragic scenario being played out across the city – that of elderly people being forced away from their neighbourhoods when they could no longer look after themselves or when they want to downsize into a retirement village.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman will make it easier for elderly people to remain in their own neighbourhoods by establishing a special Retirement and Aged Care Taskforce, if he is re-elected with a Can Do Council team on March 15.

The Lord Mayor said the Taskforce would review the town plan and industry requirements to find ways to establish retirement and aged-care homes in each ward, and closer to the CBD.

Cr Newman said the Taskforce would address an increasingly tragic scenario being played out across the city – that of elderly people being forced away from their neighbourhoods when they could no longer look after themselves or when they want to downsize into a retirement village.

“What we see happening now is our elderly population, who have lived in Brisbane all of their lives, having to move to the city fringes away from their families, their friends and their trusted doctors,” he said.

“Such a seismic shift at that delicate age should be avoided where possible and I am determined to find a solution to this problem.

“Brisbane’s older residents should be able to grow old in the communities that have housed them all their lives. I want to make it easier to have aged care homes in every ward.”

Cr Newman said current projections showed that by 2021, nearly 20 per cent of the population would be aged 65 or over.

However there were only about 28,000 high-level aged care places in Queensland, with the need for another 5000 expected in the next three years – an increase of about 20 per cent.

“The time to act on this is now, because it will be our children and grandchildren who will have to deal with an ever-increasing elderly population,” he said.

“This taskforce will be made up of industry professionals, Council officers and State representatives will also be invited to take part.

“We’ll be reviewing our City Plan, in consultation with the community, to ensure that the older members of society can find appropriate retirement and care facilities within their own neighbourhoods.

“This is part of my plan to improve life in Brisbane’s suburbs, by fixing roads so people can get home quicker, and also by improving the social fabric of our city.”

CanDo Team