Our health, well-being and life expectancy may be influenced by adjustment to our lifestyle. The factors we can correct directly are diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake and the degree to which we expose ourselves to pollutants. Sleep, fluid intake, and excessive stress effect our rate of ageing. There is a well-known list of life events which are related to stress.

High on the list are the deaths of a partner or child, loss or change of a job, financial crises and major illness. Longevity relates to a sense of purpose and meaning in life, commitment within a community and a quality of independent mindedness. In many respects the present cohort of 50 and 60 year olds represent a pioneer group.

They grew up in the post war years when there was a new spirit of freedom and they have retained a determination to find purpose in the later years of their life. They represent a significantly large section of the community and are, therefore, increasingly influential in economic terms.