Ease housing stress
KEVIN Rudd rightly alerts the community about the cost of an ageing society (The Age, 25/1). However, governments can ameliorate the impact of higher health expenditure and anticipated lower tax revenue. There is an urgent need for adequate housing for older people on low incomes. This number has doubled to 112,000 in the past five years. Ensuring they have adaptable, appropriately designed and well-located housing linked to community services can assist the ''ageing well'' process and avoid ''housing poverty'', which causes ill health and premature entry to residential care.

An older person's housing plan at state and federal levels is required.

Also, before we accept the argument that older people will become an expensive burden, do not forget that many contribute thousands of volunteer hours every year, helping to keep many services operating.

Dalene Salisbury, chairwoman, Housing for the Aged Action Group, Melbourne