Year published: 2013
The key messages from the report are:
- Life is not over once you hit 85. In fact, most people over this age are rather independent, feel that their health is good, enjoy a good quality of life, and have more than a few years of life left.
- People get more diverse the older they get.
- Assumptions based on the younger old can be totally inappropriate for the oldest old.
- No matter what chronological age a person is, it is still worth treating health problems.
- Even the very old and frail need to get up and moving. There is never an age where it’s best to sit and rest all the time!
- The social interaction needs we all have continue to be as important, if not more so, when we get to be very old.
- Loneliness and isolation tends to increase the older we get, as we lose social networks, friends, and mobility. Even those surrounded by others, such as in a care home, can feel lonely; people may need to be supported and encouraged to participate and engage.
- People still want to be involved in decisions about their lives, no matter how old they are.
- Not enough is known about people in the fourth generation. More research is needed.