This is a population in which the balance between the young (under 15s) and the elderly (over 60s

components of a population shifts to the latter )ther names for the elderly include* +)),ies (+ell )ff )ld ,ersons) and -)..ies (-et/setting )ldies with .oads of .oot) They are said to go on 01# holidays (0pending the 1ids #nheritance on holidays) 0ome of the needs of the elderly include large/print boo!s% meals on wheels% stair lifts and granny mobiles 4rey ghettos are areas which have a significant inward migration of elderly people (places such as 2astbourne) They move to a place which copes with their needs both physically (climate) and infrastructurally (easy access shops% bingo nights) The fact that people in 8256s are now e(periencing between 10 and 90 years in retirement is creating enormous pressure on pension schemes "s wor! in the care sector becomes less attractive to native wor!ers% both in terms of image and pay% so more migrants from overseas will fill the posts The closing of final salary pension schemes to new employees and reduced terms to e(isting employees as well as recent scandals in the selling of private pensions doesnt ma!e the future rosy for the elderly of the future

There is tal! in "ustria of giving parents greater voting rights than the elderly #n $rance% some mothers get a &6'5 ta( brea! when they have their third child The catholic countries of 0outhern 2urope have some of the most aged populations due to the wish of more women to have a career as well as the lac! of nursery facilities and cr3ches There is a need for increased stoc!s of granny flats% wardened and sheltered accommodation and care homes " large amount of evidence is pointing to the elderly% especially women% being the victims of neglect% violence and abuse #n some .256s some women who become widows are immediately sub7ected to suspicion and abuse The cost of the pension system is a huge worry for future governments 0ome pro7ections state that an income ta( rise of :p in the & will be re;uired "s the proportion of the population creating wealth and paying ta(es goes down soon a point will come when income from ta(es cant !eep pace with welfare e(penditure 8ore and more people are see!ing early retirement as the wor!place becomes increasingly stressful "t the same time there is reluctance on the part of some employers to recruit grey labour (over 50s possibly made redundant)

The grey vote has a powerful political punch #n the <1 they represent almost 50= of the electorate The elderly have the time and the e(perience to become particularly influential #n an average 2< country% 95= of 45, goes on welfare -ust under half of this goes on pensions The <1 government% in encouraging higher birth rates% has introduced free nursery places for young children% higher paternity pay rates (>0=) and more parental leave This will cost &11billions -apan is a country which has a disli!e of immigration and a desire to preserve the gene/pool of the e(isting people +ith declining birth rates and high life e(pectancy% this means -apan has a serious ageing population problem #n -apan the government% all too aware of the wor!aholic culture there% has set up a dating service for singles Aaising a child to age 1' costs about &65 000 on average 8any mothers realise this and opt out of having children or have fewer 9:= of mothers returning from maternity leave return to lower paid 7obs This rises to 50= among uns!illed wor!ers

#mmigration from the 6ommonwealth countries to the <1 may well be a divisive issue #t may also be the source of ta(/paying income that the <1 needs to more effectively care for dependent elders The retirement age will have to rise in the future it seems +omen may have to wor! to 65 and men to 6' 8any women continue with their career until their mid to late thirties for economic reasons and then find that they cannot have children due to reduced fertility

' million people live on their own in the <1 This is twice as many as in 1>'? The number of singletons aged 95/@@ (the prime child bearing years) has risen 6/fold in that time They will be more old people in the future They are often un!indly referred to as 0aga louts " 9@ year old mid/s!illed woman giving birth would lose somewhere in the region of &500 000 over her lifetime (compared to a childless counterpart) #n 9000 there were 600 million people aged 60B This will be 9 billion by 9050 0oon 1 in every ? people will be over the age of 60