Daniel Gannon, the new Executive Director of the Retirement Living Council, has outlined his three big priorities for his tenure as he settles into the role, including educating politicians and the public on the benefits of age-friendly communities.
Speaking to The Weekly SOURCE, Daniel, who has a long family history in the retirement living sector, said there are opportunities for the RLC in the current housing crisis to discuss ways of injecting new housing supply into the market.
“One of those opportunities, naturally is to encourage more senior Australians to consider right-sizing or downsizing to shift into housing that’s more suitable to their ageing needs, which would then free up that larger, more traditional housing stock at the front end of the market for growing families,” he said.
Daniel laid out three main priorities: adopting a “broad, consultative, industry-driven approach” that considers the needs of both operators and residents; undertaking a strategic audit to make sure the RLC is “truly representative and truly focused on the right priorities in the right areas”; and educating decision-makers about the difference between age-friendly communities and aged care, as well as the positives these communities can provide for seniors, taxpayers and Governments.
“Benefits that can be delivered to Governments through retirement communities include fewer GP visit, shorter hospital stays, and safer and healthier communities for senior Australians.
“I see the role that we'll be playing over the next couple of years as an important educating role, but also a really important storytelling role, to make sure that more decision-makers – but also more consumers – understand the great benefits and opportunities that age-friendly communities can provide,” he said.
