Over the last half century, life expectancy across the world has been rising as a result of better quality healthcare. This means that today we have an ageing population. On the face of it, living longer seems to be a good thing – after all, nobody really want to die! – but a decent old age depends on health and wealth.
Many people in their seventies and eighties, and even older, are able to enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement. They can travel to new destinations and get involved in a wide range of hobbies and activities that were impossible while working and bringing up a family. Those with grandchildren may also be able to help young, busy parents with such tasks as collecting children from school; moreover, they could share their life experiences with the younger generation.
But while there are tremendous benefits to increased life expectancy, they depend, to an extent, on being healthy and having money. Older people are more likely to suffer from medical problems, especially chronic illnesses like diabetes and muscle pain, which can seriously restrict the kinds of activities they do. This also means increased health care costs, for both individuals and society. In addition, if older people aren’t working, they will have to rely on savings and pensions to pay for their lifestyle, but many older people simply won’t have been able to save enough for a long old age.
Overall then, I feel that the benefits of living older are clear, but these must be balanced against the implications for health and money. If living longer simply means chronic health complaints and grinding poverty for a longer time, it is questionable as to whether it is an advantage at all. 
Over the last half century, life expectancy across the world has been rising  
as a result
 of better quality healthcare. This means that  
today
 we have an  
ageing
 population. On the face of it, living longer seems to be a  
good
 thing  
–
  after all
, nobody  
really
  want
 to  
die
!  
–
  but
 a decent  
old
 age depends on  
health
 and wealth. 
Many
  people
 in their seventies and eighties, and even  
older
, are able to enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement. They can travel to new destinations and  
get
 involved in a wide range of hobbies and activities that were impossible while working and bringing up a family. Those with grandchildren may  
also
 be able to  
help
 young, busy parents with such tasks as collecting children from school;  
moreover
, they could share their life experiences with the younger generation. 
But
 while there are tremendous benefits to increased life expectancy, they depend, to an extent, on being healthy and having money.  
Older
  people
 are more likely to suffer from medical problems,  
especially
 chronic illnesses like diabetes and muscle pain, which can  
seriously
 restrict the kinds of activities they do. This  
also
 means increased  
health
 care costs, for both individuals and society.  
In addition
, if  
older
  people
 aren’t working, they will  
have to
 rely on savings and pensions to pay for their lifestyle,  
but
  many
  older
  people
  simply
 won’t have been able to save  
enough
 for a long  
old
 age. 
Overall
 then, I feel that the benefits of living  
older
 are  
clear
,  
but
 these  
must
  be balanced
 against the implications for  
health
 and money. If living longer  
simply
 means chronic  
health
 complaints and grinding poverty for a longer time, it is questionable  
as to whether
 it is an advantage at all.