The elderly are better at having fun, according to a new study which shows they are every bit as happy as young people despite spending more time alone.
Research into the social lives of young and old Australians has turned up some unusual results that confirm the wisdom of old age.
Psychologist Professor Bill von Hippel, from the University of Queensland, said, ''We know older people get out much less and socialise much less than people in the social prime of their 20s, but this doesn't seem to affect their social satisfaction.
''We found, rather surprisingly, that older people are just as satisfied with their social lives because they seem to get much more from the few interactions they have.'' AAP