We are all living longer and this 'impact' of ageing should be made easier with any possible age-related dependency minimised. If one lives for 90 years, every attempt should be made to make all those 90 years active and healthy.
It may sound a bit utopian but the late-life 'morbidities' can be 'compressed' quite a bit through 'healthy' life style and maintenance of 'activity'. HALE is Healthy Active Life Expectancy ; let me explain. If one lives upto 90 but becomes dependent at the age of 80 - his post-retiremnet HALE will be 15/25 ie 60%. If , however, his dependency could be 'delayed' by another 5 yrs , it will be 80% . It has been suggested by some social gerontologists that we should all make an effort to reduce the period of 'morbidity and dependemcy' or even to 'postpone' them and increase our HALE.
Early expert assessment of functional ability , a correct diagnosis followed by modern treatment , strong psychological and social support and environment are matters which might make increase the HALE.
The 'conventional' approach for more and more care and care-homes etc can't be the way forward. The whole society must begin to look at things differently and take a more progressive view towards ageing. Certainly not neglect but not thousands of more care home beds , certainly better provision of health and social provisions but not more and more granny creches !
Most middle aged of today ie elders of tomorrow would like to live a fulfilling active social life shared with the rest of the community -- and , when eventually the time comes, to die 'young' !!! Can anything else be better??
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