10 May

In the next 14 years the number of people aged 85 and over in Australia will double, from about half a million now, to nearly 1.2 million. The boomer demographic blip working its way through the population age profile. If you want to see that tidal wave coming, go to town at a lunch time now. Or even at breakfast, or afternoon tea. Restaurants, cafes and shops are increasingly overrun, with retirees. Like peak tourist season, but all year. The highest risk group for Covid too, but mostly oblivious to that. Dining out and socialising must take priority. There are no young workers to look after them. And they will demand gold-standard care. Nobody is having babies. The young can’t afford to have families.