Let us take the lead in defusing Bermuda's looming baby boom time bomb.

That was the call from Age Concern last night, as the charity responded to news that the Island's greying population will be one of the greatest challenges it faces this century.

revealed yesterday how a new Government report predicted that the number of seniors in Bermuda is set to double by 2030.

Claudette Fleming, executive director at Age Concern, said whatever solution was drawn up to combat the problem, her charity would "love to take the lead".

She added that the vast experience her organisation had in dealing with the elderly could only help when plans were outlined to combat the predicted pitfalls of the baby boom generation growing old.

The report warned that finding care providers for seniors would become a more pressing challenge, and said that more retirement bases and senior citizen day-care facilities would be needed.

Warnings were also sounded about the strain more seniors would place on the pension pot, as the birth date drops and the workforce dwindles.

Ms Fleming yesterday said the situation could be seen either a "crisis or an opportunity". "That all depends on how prepared we are in Bermuda to answer some of those questions (in the report).

"It's not so much of a challenge if we are prepared to be pro-active about it."

She said that a conversation was already underway about raising the retirement age of 65 ? an idea already raised by a Government clearly concerned about the prospect of a declining tax base coupled with spiralling pension costs.

Ms Fleming also said more discussion would be needed on financial planning and investment, to ensure the rising number of seniors were more secure in old age. Reversible mortgages, talked about for years, would ensure property-rich elderly Bermudians were not cash-poor, she said.

Other issues included whether there would be enough care professionals to deal with a growing number of frail elderly residents

She said that a little more pro-activity was needed from Government on the issue, but that the final answer lay with companies, charities and health groups ? and all organisations that liased with seniors.

"How can we create an environment where older people are empowered?" she asked. "We want people to age with dignity and do not want them dependent and relying on Government services more than they have to.

"There are older people out there that still have something to contribute to this community. They are willing to work.

Shadow Minister for Seniors, Louise Jackson, has said those growing old faced a potential "horror show" in later life and claimed not enough was being done to tackle the problem.

Asked if she agreed with that assessment, Ms Fleming yesterday said she did not want to scare people about the future.

Sounding a more positive note, she added: "It does not have to be a horror show. There's momentum but there has to be a driving force that brings people together and moves forward."

This could include a Government task force, she stated, but discussions would be needed before anything was set in stone.