In spite of their advanced age, they are in the middle of life, healthy, active and mentally alert—these people are referred to as the"young old." Statistically speaking, those who retire today have far more years of life ahead of them than their grandparents did. The older generation benefits from improved living conditions after the Second World War, including less heavy physical work, better nutrition, good health care and greater health awareness.
Experts refer to morbidity compression when illnesses or disabilities occur less frequently or later in the course of life. If this is the case, a healthy life span is gained. On the other hand, when morbidity increases, disease or disability appears more frequently or earlier in the course of life. If this is the case, healthy life time is lost. People then live more years of life with impairments and needing treatment.