Future health issues and delivery needs of the elderly.

We have 6.9% of the population who are 65 years and older in June 1996. This figure will increase to 18.4% in 2030. In absolute numbers, the increase will be from 209,700 to 789,600 million in 2030. The majority of these however, will be ambulant and independent. Our important task in the health context is to help ageing persons maintain function and quality of life to achieve the maximum life-span potential. To achieve this, we need to focus on individual preventive efforts to develop the medical profession in the new medicine paradigm, to provide care and we need to develop at the societal level the well network, the activating network and the health & nursing care network as an integrated seamless service. We also need at a societal level, to invest in the determinants of good health and disability-free life, namely, financial independence, acceptance by the family and recognition of the elderly, as valued members of society.