Living in an aging world: a challenge for the individual and the society

Abstract

We are living in an aging world. Never before in Germany, in Europe, in the whole world so many people could reach such an advanced age. There is an enormous extension of the lifespan in all European countries, but also in all other countries of the world. This is due to the progress of modern medicine, the improvement of the socio-economic living conditions, and it is also infl uenced by life style. But it is not only important to add years to life, but also to add life to years. Life expectancy does not only mean length of life, but also quality of life.