David Oliver: How can we plan for old age if we won’t discuss it honestly?

Media depictions of ageing have become polarised. On the one hand we have skydiving grannies, marathon running granddads, and national treasures such as Judi Dench and David Attenborough. And then we have “The Elderly”—hapless victims of neglect, passive recipients of care, burdens on public services, and part of a “grey tsunami.”

Over the past few months, an avalanche of articles and books has told us how to stave off ageing and remain as fit as we can for as long as we can. To paraphrase: “70 is the new 45, you’re as young as you feel, and I’m certainly …