Older people identify good health as their top priority. The EU supports the importance of promoting preventative approaches, stating that it will minimise the need to expand clinical and care services and will be more advantageous financially than medical technologies, which paradoxically tend to increase overall spending. We need increased commitment for ageing well. Mental health of older people needs increased resources and further research, supporting the integration of mental health services and primary health care using a holistic multi-disciplinary approach.