Research and surveys to determine changes in demographic structure and to identify the needs of the elderly are under way in many countries. However, one has to be aware of the fact that any form of research, be it at the national or local level, is an on-going process and as such it should go beyond the collection of purely descriptive data. It is of the utmost importance to look at research on population ageing from the developmental and cultural point of view, namely by studying and building feasible models to meet the challenges of this twentieth century phenomenon according to every country's needs. In this context, research and particularly its widest dissemination needs to be better co-ordinated and more focused. National experiences in meeting the challenges of population ageing suggest the fundamental importance of establishing or strengthening machineries, for co-ordinated data collection, planning and implementation.
Wide divergencies exist with respect to the situation of older persons in various societies.
This is reflected in different situations and needs. Consequently, every country should decide upon its national strategy. Notwithstanding this, however, and precisely because of this, the exchange of information and experience at the international level is an effective means of stimulating progress and encouraging the adaptation of measures to respond to the diverse economic and social implications of ageing. A lot stands to be gained through the analyses of cross-national differences and the evaluation of divergent experiences of population ageing and its effects. Innovative efforts throughout the world in the field of ageing should be documented and the experience and evaluation of such programs shared.