The cost of growing old--can we meet it?

摘要

In the last few weeks, there has been a plethora of articles in the UK media on the dual subjects of demographic changes in the population and the costs of being elderly, be it as an independent individual or in a care home. One could be slightly cynical that with the local elections arriving in May, politicians have realised that mobilising the 'grey' vote could be a key factor in fulfilling their own expectations. As a result, financial advisors and editors in various mainstream newspapers have made the ageing population the subject of key opinion reports. The Times (23.04.11) suggested that this cohort of the population could present 'an opportunity for investors'.