Patterns of Aging: Past, Present, and Future

Negative stereotypes of old age have been strongly entrenched in our society, but they are now giving way to more realistic images of the diversity among older people, a diversity that is substantiated by the findings of social scientists. If a dramatic extension of the life-span occurs in the next few decades, the political, economic, social, and ethical problems for the society at large will be enormous; and it cannot be predicted whether the status of the aged will become better or worse.