ABSTRACT
What benefits and settings are required, and where, will clearly be affected greatly by social trends. The following is a selection of trends that may be more relevant to urbanised countries (Broadhurst 1997; Driver et al. 1999; Roberts 1992): The population is ageing, with people living longer, giving rise to an expanding
group of older people who have more time, greater health and greater wealth than in the past. It is worth remembering just what a varied group this is. The needs of an 80 year old are not the same as those of 60 year old. Pensions are required to cover much longer periods than in the past. The ageing of the population with fewer youngsters and people of working age, are factors that work together to produce greater pressure on public funds.
