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Executive summary
The Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) ‘State of Ageing in Victoria’ Pulse survey provides an up-to-date insight into how older Victorians feel about the upsides and the downsides of their lives in 2026.
Overall, a healthy majority of survey participants feel they are able to live a good life, are respected within and connected to their communities, and feel reasonably secure in their housing.
- 82% of respondents rate their overall quality of life as good or very good;
- 68% report finding access to health services reasonably easy;
- 80% say they feel safe and respected in their local community always or mostly;
- 2% only cite digital exclusion as a barrier to a good life;
- 90% think their housing is very or somewhat secure.
Yet there are many for whom this is clearly not the case. Isolation and financial hardship, age discrimination and lack of community respect were commonly reported. If these findings hold for Victoria at large, a significant percentage of older Victorians are not experiencing the wellbeing, dignity, security, and connection that they expect and deserve.
- 19% of respondents say they are struggling with the cost of living;
- 35% report experiencing financial stress in the previous 12 months;
- 48% of those engaging with aged or disability care found access difficult;
- 21% had been or know someone who has been stuck in hospital due to lack of follow up services;
- 12% report feeling isolated from others frequently or always.
Older Victorians have a lot to say about changes that could improve their lives. Prominent suggestions included calls for more accessible health and social services, more age-suitable housing options, and reduced costs of maintaining a household. Many responses conveyed a desire to be better recognised, respected, and engaged in decision-making.
The Pulse survey was conducted as an online survey in May-July 2026. Nearly 500 people aged 50 and over shared their views, ranging widely across the age spectrum and across metropolitan, regional, and rural Victoria. While the group was diverse in many respects, there was some overrepresentation of women, homeowners, and self-funded retirees.
The survey will be repeated annually over coming years to gauge changes in the sentiment of older Victorians.