In developed countries, people are living longer than ever. In this essay I will discuss some of the challenges this brings and propose ways in which the consequences of a rise in the number of older citizens can be mitigated. While the addition of a decade or more onto our lives can be wonderful, there are inevitably challenges that will arise for the individual. One of these is the onset of debilitating diseases such as alzheimers and diabetes. These diseases not only make it difficult to continue to enjoy a normal life but also put a great strain on other members of the family who may have to bear much of the burden of care financially and/or physically. Another issue is the financial strain the elderly themselves can be under. If they retired at the age of 65 but live beyond 90, they may well find that their savings run out and they become either destitute or reliant on state or family care. Clearly, society as a whole is impacted as well. As an increasing proportion of a countr...