Traditionally in the UK 65 is the marker for retirement and old age. In modern times this is changing. There is no longer official retirement age, State Pension age is rising, and increasing numbers of people work past the age of 65 years. Life expectancy is increasing and people are living longer, healthier lives suggesting that the start of older age has shifted. At a population level, ageing looking ahead to the middle of this century, there are projected to be 17.7 million people aged 65 years and over (24.8% of the population).
