<p>Globally, the population is ageing. The world’s elderly population is increasing by 795,000 each month (Kinsella and Velkoff 2001). Industrialised nations have demonstrated a tremendous increase in this population. More than 35 million people residing in the US are over 65 years of age and they make up 13 per cent of the population (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics 2000). The population of people 85 and over increased by 38 per cent from 1990 to 2000 (US Census Bureau 2000). The older American adult population is expected to more than double by the year 2050, with the largest growth spurt taking place between 2010 and 2030 when the baby boom generation enters the ‘golden years’.</p>