Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-236) and index.

Is the growing elderly population a serious problem? -- Growing elderly population is a serious problem / Peter G. Peterson -- Growing elderly population will create a health care worker shortage / Kim Krisberg -- Aging prisoners strain the nation's penal system / Stephanie Pfeffer -- Doomsday predictions about population aging are exaggerated / Robert B. Friedland, Laura Summer -- Growing elderly population is healthier and wealthier than ever / Tim Smart -- Elderly contribute to society / David Gould -- Does health care meet the needs of the elderly? -- Medicare reforms have improved health care for the elderly / George W. Bush -- Medicaid eligibility requirements protect the elderly poor / Ellen O'Brien -- Long-term care insurance meets the needs of the elderly / Richard W. Johnson, Cori E. Uccello -- Medicare should be reformed / Jessica Mittler -- Medicaid eligibility requirements must be reformed / Stephen A. Moses -- Ageism prevents the elderly from getting proper medical care / Alice Dembner -- Elderly minorities receive inferior health care / Kim Krisberg -- Alzheimer's epidemic threatens to overwhelm the heath care system / Salynn Boyles -- Should social security be privatized? -- Privatizing social security will benefit all Americans / George W.

Bush -- Privatizing social security gives workers control over their future / Michael Tanner -- Privatizing social security will benefit the economy / David Malpass -- Private social security accounts should not replace guaranteed benefits / Jeffrey B. Liebman -- Privatizing social security would create too much personal risk / Jacob S. Hacker -- Traditional social security program helps Americans share life's risks and rewards / Barack Obama -- What challenges do the elderly face? -- Elderly workers face discrimination / Joanna N. Lahey -- Elderly are vulnerable to abuse / National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence -- Elderly have high suicide rates / Lauren Neergaard -- Elderly are vulnerable to financial exploitation / Susanna Schrobsdorff -- Elderly lack affordable housing / James J. Callahan Jr. -- Lack of transportation options restrict elderly independence / In Hee Choi et al. -- Ageism remains a serious problem for the elderly / Abigail Trafford -- Elderly face a lack of compassion / George Neumayr.