Why older people are more than happy to live life to the full

A new study says over-65s are very content with their lot in life. Arlene Harris talks to people who say getting older brings with it great happiness

Neil Steedman says that Buddhism has taught him that happiness is a decision we make every day. Picture: Garry O'Neill

They say that youth is wasted on the young. But what if the earlier years of our lives are not the best ones and, in fact, we should all be looking forward to getting older?

According to a new study from Home Instead Senior Care UK, a large percentage of people over the age of 65 are very content with the ‘endless supply of free time’, the ability to speak their mind without caring, the realisation that there is ‘more to life than work’, and, interestingly, the joy of ‘wearing clothes for comfort’.