Introduction

Ageing is a global phenomenon. Although more pronounced and dramatic in the developed world, the developing world is also ageing. Global ageing has had and will increasingly have tremendous social, economic, political, cultural and other repercussions. The effects of global ageing are so profound and immense that global ageing has been described as a revolution. As one commentator put it: “The world stands on the threshold of a social transformation – even a revolution – with few parallels in humanity’s past. Indeed, this revolution has already begun1 Perhaps two-thirds of all people who have reached the age of 65 are alive today. It’s time we take an unflinching look at things to come.”2