Dr Laurel Hixon, Research Fellow, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, gives the first talk for the Oxford Conference on Ageing and Psychiatry. Changing demographics provide challenges and opportunities for those interested in a career in old age psychiatry. Increasing life expectancy will lead to an ageing population with heterogeneous needs. To meet demands the health-care demands of this population, services need to provide increased flexibility and responsiveness, as well as mechanisms to integrate care.