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Problems looming as people live longer

There are renewed warnings about the growing numbers of elderly people, with the United Kingdom seeing the over 85 age group doubling in the last 25 years.

In the Isle of Man there has been a rapid increase in the percentage of people over retirement age.

The UK government estimates the cost of looking after its pensioners will double to £24 billion in the next couple of decades, and Age Concern's chief executive in the Island Penny Creighton says we could soon face similar problems here.

She told Manx Radio:

"I recently asked for some figures from the Department of Economic Affairs and it would seem that, in terms of what has happened in the past and since the last census, the numbers of people over 85 are certainly increasing.

"Research throughout the world has shown that people are living longer, (and) health care is so much better."

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