The importance of roles of elders differs dramatically across cultures. Elders are seen to be more highly respected in some countries than others. For example, in China the issue of filial piety addresses the role the children must play in looking after their parents as they themselves become dependants. Other countries approach ageing differently.....

In western countries including Australia the shape of society has changed over the last two decades in particular, and the issue of ageism - where people are discriminated against because of their "older" age- has become prevalent.

Importantly, there have been many major achievements that older people have made in the latter part of their lives, including:

• Cecil B De Mille produced and directed Academy Award Winning "The Greatest Show on Earth" aged 70. "The Ten Commandments, his seventieth film, premiered 4 years later"

• Victor Hugo published his last work aged 82;

• Benjamin Franklin- writer, scientist, inventor, politician, helped to draft the Declaration of Independence at 81 which assisted the establishment of the American Constitution;

• Ducan Maclean, athlete, run 200 metres in forty seconds aged 90

• Guiseppe Verdi wrote Ostello at age 73, Falstaff at 79 and Stabat Mater at 84.

• Frank Lloyd Wright was 91 when he completed the Guggenheim Museum.

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