People are living longer and in better health than previous generations, according to a recent study of ageing populations around the world.

And those over the age of 60 are making valuable contributions to their communities, most noticeably in work with charitable organisations and family support, but also in the workforce.

Such were the findings of Control, Independence and Good Health ¿ The New Old Age: The HSBC Future of Retirement Global Ageing Survey.

Conducted by George W. Leeson, the deputy director of the Oxford Institute of Ageing and a senior research fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford, the 2006 study examined 21,000 people between the ages of 40 and 79 in 21 countries ¿ across North America, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its findings were presented at a conference held by the Bermuda Council on Ageing at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

"The prospect of a relatively long life is real for large proportions of the world's population, and we as individuals want, and are able, to contribute to our families and our communities," said Dr. Leeson, the keynote speaker at yesterday's event.

"There lies the challenge and there lies the opportunity for every individual, every country and every government in a world of increasing longevity.

"The survey shows that people generally feel good, even as they age. Key factors are independence and control, which contribute to a positive quality of life post-retirement. Good health continues for most until well into their 70s and even 80s. The 'over-50s' are not simply passive recipients of increasing amounts of support from their family, from their community and from their society.

"These cohorts provide significant amounts of support within the family. They are engaged in voluntary work and substantial proportions continue to work after the traditional retirement age because they want to and they plan to continue working for as long as possible."

Without a proper examination of residents, Dr. Leeson said he was unable to speak about Bermuda specifically, but his study would provide the island with "a picture of the global trends and issues coming up to the surface".

"We're making governments, employers and individuals think differently about ageing populations and providing insight for people in Bermuda," he explained.

"What we're finding is there is a change taking place in individual perceptions of 'late life' and what we aspire to do in 'late life'. What our grandparents and our parents thought of as 'old age' has now been pushed back, into late 80s and 90s."

Americans between the ages of 60 and 79 contribute nearly $20 billion to the volunteer sector through charitable work each year, Dr. Leeson stated.

"They're also making a huge contribution to families ¿ providing support to younger generations ¿ and a substantial contribution in the workplace. What we're seeing is a completely different concept of older generations. I think all of us have been listening to the mantra of staying active in old age and people are in a position to make the most of that. They feel in control, their independent and they enjoy life."

Not everyone is enjoying such a robust existence, he admitted.

"There are, of course, groups in every economy, of people who are not in that position and we're looking at what that means for government and for employers." Individuals will be better able to sustain their lifestyles through retirement if they prepare themselves financially, he added.

"We need to find the right balance between the resources available and the willingness/ability of people to provide for themselves. There will be a group that does not have the basic resources and maybe that's where society should be focusing their attention.

"No one knows how long they will live but based on statistics and averages, people should not expect 20 or 30 years in retirement financed by government and occupational pensions alone. We have to work longer."

It's a train of thought that needs to be changed as, in recent years, most societies have been encouraging individuals to retire earlier, Dr. Leeson said.