Changing elderly in a changing society. Danish elderly in the next century

A cross-sectional and multidisciplinary study on the situation of the elderly in Denmark at the beginning of the next century was undertaken in the late 1980s. The intention was to give a picture of the future cohorts of elderly, and their expectations for old age. The study also looked into the ways in which future societal developments might affect the situation of the elderly. In order to test a number of hypotheses on the future elderly and their preferences for life when they grow older, 1200 persons in the age groups 40-44, 50-54, and 60-64 years old were interviewed. Further, a number of studies were commissioned on developments which may affect the elderly with regard to health, housing, family, work and retirement, financial conditions, leisure activities and political participation. A main conclusion is that the future elderly in most areas--be it financial conditions, health, housing education--will be in a more favourable position than their predecessors after retirement. But there will still be a minority who suffer a hard life. They are the people whose finances are weak, whose health is impaired, and who lack social contacts.