In late 2024, The Plug-in conducted a Mood Snapshot survey to hear from our community about their experiences in 2024 and outlook for 2025. We were overwhelmed with the heartfelt responses of the 66 people who completed our survey – thank you.

Overall, 64% of respondents felt positive when reflecting on life at the end of 2024 (ratings of 7+ on a 10-point scale). This result is a similar recording to the results of last year’s Mood Snapshot survey (65%).

The Main Positives of 2024
While many people had mixed feelings about events or circumstances throughout 2024 (61%),  the main positives of the year included:

Health, Well-being, and Personal Growth (35%) – Respondents reflected positively on improvements to their personal health (physical and mental), and meaningful participation in activities (e.g., gardening, travel, physical exercise).

Social Engagement, Community, and Family (30%) – Respondents were grateful for social connections, involvement in community activities, and family support..

Government and Policy Support (15%) – Notably, support provided through financial aid, aged care reforms, and improvements in healthcare services.

The Main Challenges of 2024
When considering the biggest challenges older people experienced through 2024, our Plug-in community highlighted:

Cost of Living and Financial Insecurity (33%) – Concerns were raised about rising rent prices, groceries, and utilities, along with concerns about financial hardship, pension reliance, and housing insecurity.

Health, Healthcare, and Aged Care (32%) – Respondents were concerned about their physical health issues, mental health struggles, frustrations with the healthcare system, access to services, and concerns about the adequacy of aged care services and standards.

Loneliness and Social Isolation (27%) – Going into 2025, respondents were concerned about loneliness and the social isolation of older people, particularly for those in rural areas.

Navigating 2025 – Older Australians Hopes and Concerns

When looking at the year ahead, 61% of respondents felt positive about what was to come in 2025. This outlook has positively improved in comparison to last year’s data where only 55% of respondents felt positive about the year to come.

What People are Most Looking Forward to in 2025

What People are Most Concerned About for 2025
🌟Time with family, friends, and community (25%)

🌟Health, well-being, and personal achievements (24%)

🌟Travel and holidays (10%)

 ⚠️Cost of living, finances, and access to services (33%)

⚠️Health-related issues (32%)

⚠️Social Isolation and loneliness (21%)

2025 in a Word: How You Feel About the Year Ahead

We love hearing from you and learning about the unique experiences of our community and the challenges people are facing. Gathering these insights ensure The Plug-in and COTA SA continue to represent the interests of older South Australians. We warmly encourage you to sign up for free to share your valuable insights and have an influence. We want to hear from you!

SIGN UP TO THE PLUG-IN HERE

Your contributions make a difference to the lives of older Australians.

For further information please contact The Plug-in on (08) 8224 5526 or email connect@theplugin.com.au