The coalition government have, up to now, been fastidiously careful not to rattle the cage of a section of society well-known for its mainly Conservative leanings. It seems likely that any dent in this traditional groundswell of support could have disastrous consequences for the Tory Party's chances of remaining on the political map come 2015 and election time.

Baroness Margaret Thatcher passed away at the Ritz Hotel this week. I have felt a great sense of empathy for the manner in which the elderly Baroness was treated in the final years of her life. In short, I felt she was mistreated by the media and a number of people.

So budget week is upon us, and with it will come the inevitably predictable proclamations and protestations about who will be hit the hardest.

Modern science really is a miracle. In the last 100 years life expectancy has almost doubled from 42 at the turn of the century to 77 now for men and 82 for women. But with this extra life has come a problem.

Thousands more people are likely to be hit with inheritance tax to pay for an extension in state support for the elderly in a social care cap that bee...

Today is Older People's Day - a welcome celebration of the contribution that older people make to society. There will be much written, and still more done, to underline the importance of building bonds and relationships between people of all ages. Less, however, might be said about the issue of 'active ageing', what it means to older people and how we might achieve it.

Hollywood and television commercials present countless images of old age as a time when contented, silver-haired individuals kick back after a life of work and raising families. The reality, however, is often very different and why, in truth, many people are a little scared of growing old.