BUSINESS NEWS - South Africans are living longer, but is the country keeping pace with the changing needs of an ageing population?

By 2050, around 2.1 billion people worldwide are expected to be over the age of 60, while the number of people aged 80 and older is projected to triple from 2020 levels to 426 million.

South Africa is part of this global shift. By 2050, roughly one in six South Africans is expected to be over 60.

And this is not a distant demographic change. More than 2.1 million people in South Africa are already in their seventies, while close to 750,000 are over 80. A further 6.4 million people are currently between 55 and 69 – meaning the generation that will experience this shift is already here.

The question is whether the country we are designing today will still work for people when they reach their eighties and beyond.

Planning for an older population

Some countries and cities have already started preparing for longer lives. More than 1,700 cities and communities in 60 countries have joined the World Health Organisation's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

South Africa still has an opportunity to learn from countries that have already experienced rapid population ageing.

China, for example, had more than 323 million people aged 60 and older by the end of 2025, representing about 23% of its population. As the population aged, traditional family-based care came under increasing pressure, while the country expanded residential care to meet growing demand.

Later research found that residential care developed more rapidly than home- and community-based services, while shortages of care workers and concerns about quality and oversight remained challenges.

South Africa's population is considerably younger, which gives the country an important advantage: there is still time to plan rather than being forced to catch up.

Turning 70 is not a finish line

Life after 70 can span several decades, and it rarely follows a predictable path.

More than 64% of South Africans over 60 live in properties that are fully paid off. Yet a home that works perfectly well at 65 may become difficult to navigate at 75 or 85.

Mobility, health, finances and relationships can all change over time, while the need for support often develops gradually rather than appearing overnight.

There is also an important gender dimension to consider. Women make up nearly two-thirds of South Africans over 70 and are more likely than men of the same age to be widowed and living alone.

Any planning that assumes an older person will always have a spouse, relative or friend available to drive them, assist them or advocate on their behalf risks leaving many people without the support they need.

Older consumers are not a single group

People over 70 should not be viewed simply through the lens of dependency.

Reaching retirement age does not necessarily mean withdrawing from the economy. Many older South Africans remain financially independent, active and engaged consumers, and their spending power will influence markets for years to come.

This has implications for businesses as well as government.

Companies that understand the needs of an ageing population, from housing and healthcare to retail, transport, financial services and leisure, will need to think about older consumers as a diverse and growing market rather than a single demographic group.

The gap between independence and care

Public planning for later life also needs to look beyond traditional social support.

Around 98% of what the national Department of Social Development spends on people over 60 goes towards the Older Persons Grant. Income support is essential, but research has identified limited state support for assisted or independent living.

Researchers estimate that around 1.5 million people over 60 require some form of support but are not frail enough to qualify for residential care. Many also struggle to access available services.

This creates a significant gap between being completely independent and requiring full-time residential care.

That gap can become increasingly important through a person's seventies and eighties, when small changes in mobility or health can make everyday tasks more difficult, even though the person remains capable of living independently with the right support.

Designing for longer lives

South Africa should be planning for the entire span of life after 70 rather than focusing only on the point at which someone requires full-time care.

That starts with adaptable housing. Homes should be able to accommodate changes in mobility without automatically forcing people to move away from familiar surroundings.

Neighbourhoods also need to work for people who no longer drive, with shops, healthcare facilities and other essential services accessible without relying entirely on a private vehicle.

Support that enables people to remain independent for longer should be available in homes and communities. Social connection also needs to form part of the planning, particularly for older people who live alone.

And when care needs do increase, there should be options that allow people to receive additional support without necessarily having to leave behind their community, relationships and familiar surroundings.

These are not decisions for government alone. Municipal planners, developers, healthcare providers and the senior-living sector all have a role to play.

Building a country that works at every age

Senior living is only one part of a much bigger picture.

The lessons from the sector apply more broadly: these needs cannot be addressed in isolation. A well-designed home does little to improve someone's quality of life if they cannot get to a clinic, access public transport or maintain meaningful social connections.

Infrastructure decisions made today will shape how South Africans live for decades to come, and many of the systems required to support longer lives cannot be created overnight.

South Africa still has time to prepare for an ageing population. The opportunity is to start planning now, while the generation currently in its late fifties and sixties is still years away from reaching its seventies.

Longer lives are a success story. The challenge is making sure the country is ready for them.

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