Old age is an increasingly long stage of life. There are nearly 1.5 million people in the UK aged 85 and over. By 2050 there will be 5 million in the UK alone.

Matthew Sweet tries to understand why society is still so reluctant to talk about ageing when - for many - the experience is a good one. He asks whether historical anxieties about population growth still overshadow contemporary discussions about the so called 'fourth-age' and if ageism will soon be regarded in the same way as discrimination on the basis of race or colour.

Matthew's many friendships with people in their 80s and 90s have hugely enriched his social life and, in this programme, he considers why such cross-generational relationships are so rare. He also asks what those over the age of 85 think about his generation's denial of the ageing process.

We explore the new territory that the 'oldest-old' inhabit - to ask about the perspective that age brings, to reflect on experiences and memories of a long life, and to discover what the 'oldest-old' would like to report back to those who are following behind.

Produced by Catherine Carr
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4. Show less