The Ageing Of Modern Societies: Crisis Or Opportunity?

Abstract

In all modern societies more people are living to later ages.
This is widely seen as a crisis, imposing an increasing burden
of costs due to the needs of older people for health and social
care and pensions. This paper suggests a more optimistic
perspective. It points out that in most higher income countries
people are living longer but are also healthy and active later in
life than ever before. The costs they impose on health services
can be overstated. Consequently increasing numbers of them
work, for pay or voluntarily, caring for others and reducing the
public cost of services. It is often asserted that families care for
older people less than in the past. This is also questionable. In
the past, due to high death rates at younger ages, poverty and
high migration rates, older people often did not have family
support available. Now due to longer life expectancy, higher
living standards and modern technology, older people may
receive more family support than in the past. Later life is sad
for many people. It always has been. But not for all. The older
age group is highly diverse.

Keywords: Old age, ageing, health, diversity, work.