[Very old age in an ageing society. Theoretical challenges, empirical problems and sociopolitical responsibilities]

This paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue "Very old age in an ageing society". Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.