Back in the early Nineties I did a programme on local radio about being both elderly and an expat. My guest was Dame Sally Greengross who was then running the UK organisation Age Concern. Both Dame Sally and I were surprised at the number of people in their sixties and above who rang in only to say they still felt young and didn’t want to be categorised as senior citizens or just “elderly”. I thought then, and still do, that this attitude was self-deceiving and unrealistic.

Anyway, Age Concern has renewed its interest in elderly expats. They’ve just launched OPRA – the Older People Residing Abroad project – which aims to identify the needs of those already living outside the UK and to collect their experiences, good and bad, as a useful data base for others thinking, as so many do, of moving abroad. They would like older expats – define that as you like – to take part in an online survey.

You can find out more and register to take part at www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/abroad_survey.asp

It doesn’t concern you? Maybe you should think again.  P.M.



From Riviera Reporter Issue 125: Feb/March 2008

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