A global index ranking the quality of life for the elderly says that Norway is the best country in the world to grow old in.
The Scandinavian country that topped the 2014 Global AgeWatch Index of 96 nations, is followed closely by Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Germany.
With the exception of Japan, the top 10 countries were all in Western Europe, North America and Australasia.
The UK came in at number 11, scoring well on income security and having an “enabling environment” but health care was criticized.
The report says the need to re-focus health and care systems to better meet the requirements of an aging population has been recognized.
The report also calls on countries to join others offering non-contributory “social pensions” for older people in poverty, which do not rely on wages or tax payments.
Mexico (ranked 30) and Peru (42) are among the countries offering the benefit and China (48) introduced a rural social pension in 2009.
It is worth noting that the Global AgeWatch Index was released to mark the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.