BMJ 2006;332 (20 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.0-f
Editor's choice
Not for wimps
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
What can we expect in old age, assuming we are lucky enough to make it that far? We may hope for physical and mental well being, independence, fun, dignity, and a peaceful death, but what are the prospects?
Based on current trends, it's hard to say. There will be more of us, with proportionately fewer younger people to finance our longer lives. The expansion of private provision in health care (p 1172) raises fears that the old and chronically ill will be increasingly poorly served. And yet recent reports and initiatives suggest that new targets are improving outcomes and changing attitudes.
Jacqueline Morris and colleagues give a cautious welcome to the latest report on the standards of health, treatment, and social care of older people in England (the National Service Framework (NSF)), but they think good care is still too patchy in the NHS (p 1166).
Fiona Godlee, editor
(fgodlee@bmj.com)
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