[Psychology and society. The aged in our society].

We are living in an aging society; almost 22% of the population of Germany is over 60 years old. However, while the period of being an active adult has increased, the period of working life has become shorter due to longer vocational/professional training and earlier retirement. Soon, for each person contributing to the pension scheme there will be one pensioner. In society the predominant image of age is negative, although even 60% of the population over 90 years old can still manage without assistance. The process of aging can be positively influenced, e.g., by activity and confrontation with problems. With the prospect of increasing longevity politicians and society, but also each individual, should do their utmost to make the additional years profitable.