Older and wiser

Becoming old is treated as if it is a real genuine problem and not just one for the capitalist system when everyone's worth is measured in pounds and pence. Yet according to a study in the journal Science the burden of aging populations in industrialized societies is less than expected because the health of the elderly has improved.

An increasing number of people 65 and older do not need care and sometimes are caregivers themselves, the researchers said.

"Although the British population is getting older, it is also likely to be getting healthier, and these two effects offset one another" the study said.