Concerns for the aged?

"It's about an attitude of mind, really.

"The people we see are perhaps those who haven't got such good health or are on a lower income and life is more difficult for them," she said.

"The people who can organise their own activities tend do it without us, although we do run groups for people, and what I have noticed is that we have a lot of older volunteers."

It's not uncommon, says Hazel, to discover people in their late 70s or even their 80s "helping the old people" - who are, of course, never themselves, always someone else.

"We've had people here as volunteers who are well into their late 80s and we've even had a member of staff who is in their 80s working at one of our centres.

"I think that's brilliant because it was keeping her active and involved and gave her a bit of income.

"Money is often about how people measure you and your status."

She believes the whole nature of ageing is changing, with the traditional image of an "old age pensioner", worn out at 65 and sitting in a rocking chair, fast disappearing.

"It's only recently that people stopped saying you only had three years past your retirement age until you died, but 68 is nothing now, when people are expecting to live to their late 70s or early 80s at least. They see it as the norm."

Why? "It's the changing generations and expectations.

"People coming up to retirement age, and I count myself as one of those, were young in the 1960s.

"I was a hippie and we had that freedom.

"We've carried it through and we won't therefore have the same kind of attitude that our grandparents had to being older."

Which means that the authorities and everyone else had better start bracing themselves for the growing-old-disgracefully brigade.

"Older people now are generally very accepting of what the statutory authorities tell them they can and can't do," says Hazel.

"I don't believe this coming generation is going to be like that.

"How can anyone who has been on Ban the Bomb marches sit down in their 80s and get told what to do?"

Besides which, of course, they'll have had the advantage of the NHS all their lives and will be fitter and healthier than generations before.

To tap into this demographic change, Age Concern in Bournemouth has started refocusing how it delivers its services.

"We are subtly changing the way we cater for those people who are more active and who want to do more than just join a lunch club.

"For some, lunch clubs are absolutely right but for others we've set up pub lunching, rather than at a church hall, because that's what people have got used to."

The pub lunching is part of Bournemouth Age Concern's new venture, Project Purple, named after the anthemic Jenny Joseph poem which starts with the line "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple".

"We chose that name because hopefully, the poem captures the spirit of what we are trying to do.

"We already do a lot of computer courses and we'll be setting up yoga and strolling groups, where people can take more gentle exercise along the prom, or wherever.

"We'll also be visiting more places of interest, not just the shops.

"Personally I loathe shopping and if all I had to look forward to was that, I would just curl up and die, but take me out to Hengistbury Head or Kingston Lacy and that's something interesting."

Hazel believes older people are too often pushed to one side.

"Too often they're perceived as a bit of a nuisance and we as a society do miss a trick because old people have huge amounts to offer."

Because they literally have seen it and done that, they often have a fresh perspective on life and its problems while being fascinated with new things like the internet and email, says Hazel.

Even death holds less fear.

"It seems to be less of an issue for them because they know it's going to happen and are more philosophical.

"However, it can be more stressful when people see their friends falling by the wayside and find that from a circle of perhaps 30 people they knew, only two or three are left.

"And that's where their social life can suffer."

And that is where Age Concern can step in, helping to introduce people to new circles of friendship and activity groups.

So, should we look forward to our older years?

Definitely, says Hazel.

"I'm looking forward to mine, I can tell you, although I don't think old age will ever really come.

"I'm looking forward to stopping working and taking up a hobby or interest and I think that's what a lot of older people are doing now.

"Many people are retiring and starting up their own business, maybe making a living out of their hobby.

"People are now having to work to 70 but so many want to.

"For them, retirement and old age isn't something bad - it's an opportunity and that is amazing."

l If you would like to contact Bournemouth Age Concern for help or to find out more, call 01202 530530.