Written by established and emerging leaders in a broad array of disciplines, this two-volume set provides undergraduate and graduate students, scholars, professionals, and policymakers with an overview of the field of aging that examines the social landscape as well as key changes, challenges, and solutions.

The people who make up the rapidly growing population of Americans over age 65 are changing, and as a result, our nation will change. This shift presents new issues, controversies, and challenges that affect health, wellness, welfare, retirement, politics, and economics. This two-volume work examines where we are and where we are headed, paying careful attention to the differential impacts of gender, race, class, marital status, and other social variables. It considers key changes in demographics, old-age policies, families, work, and death and dying.

Volume one covers an array of demographic issues, policies, and politics, highlighting how factors such as gender and race shape families, income, retirement, immigrants, and veterans across the life course. The second volume covers education, religion, volunteering, exercise, nutrition, and health care policies across the life course. Topics addressed include the old-age welfare state, the extension of retirement age, home care, care work, nursing home care, end of life planning, and euthanasia.

Provides an up-to-date, multidisciplinary, and forward-thinking look at the key areas and issues in gerontology

Highlights links between topics and relevant demographic, social, economic, and health trends with implications for immediate and long-range work in aging

Includes contributions from experts in the fields of sociology, psychology, medicine, education, politics, and government

Identifies the key changes, challenges, and solutions in each subfield

Includes an appendix containing lists of descriptions and contact information for aging organizations as well as an annotated list of documentaries about aging