The New Aging: Politics and Change in America

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This text provides a framework for understandng the circumstances currently surrounding America's elderly. It establishes the important foundation of three key forces which are changing the national perspective on aging. They are: generational claims on the government to respond to social needs; diversity in aging populations; and increasing longevity. Torres-Gil provides a context, supported by informative background material, for recognizing the significant demographic changes being experienced in the United States. The work considers the policy issues, decisions, controversies, and choices now associated with aging and demonstrates how the perception of the elderly has changed from the 1960s and 1970s to today. Is asks what is fair in the allocation of public and private resources to the elderly. How does the nation pay for services How do we make and implement the political and economic decisions with which a government and a society are now faced Torres-Gil examines the ability of the government and the active labour force to support a large elderly population and urges a change in the current delivery of services and benefits. He addresses all the essential issues necessary to avoid inter-generational conflict - inlcuding comprehensive planning, the building of social consensus, and inter-generational coalitions.

Reviews

. . . sweeping and comprehensive in what it attempts and in what it achieves as a framework for how to think about the past, present, and future of policy development and the policy process in relation to older Americans.-Journal of Aging and Social Policy
A well-written, thoughtful, and up-to-date book that puts the policies of aging in the US in historical perspective. Torres-Gil (UCLA) divides development of attitudes and policies for the aged into three groups. First is Young Aging (pre-1930), when elders were revered, respected, and cared for by families and church. Second is Modern Aging (1930-1990), when society regarded the old as poor, frail, and ill, and passed social legislation such as the Old Age and Survivors Insurance, and Medicare. The third period is the New Aging (1990 and forward), in which society faces the challenge of coping with intergenerational interests; with racial and ethnic diversity within aging populations; and with large numbers of elders because of increasing life span, as well as demographic cohort effects (e.g., baby boomers reaching retirement age). Chapters address the historical development of social policies, politics, economics, and speculation on aging in the 21st century. Torres-Gil suggests practical policies for the future, relating them to changing household structure, residential patterns, income distribution, labor force needs, and international migration patterns. Recommended for public, community college, undergraduate, and university libraries.-Choice
." . . sweeping and comprehensive in what it attempts and in what it achieves as a framework for how to think about the past, present, and future of policy development and the policy process in relation to older Americans."-Journal of Aging and Social Policy
"A well-written, thoughtful, and up-to-date book that puts the policies of aging in the US in historical perspective. Torres-Gil (UCLA) divides development of attitudes and policies for the aged into three groups. First is Young Aging (pre-1930), when elders were revered, respected, and cared for by families and church. Second is Modern Aging (1930-1990), when society regarded the old as poor, frail, and ill, and passed social legislation such as the Old Age and Survivors Insurance, and Medicare. The third period is the New Aging (1990 and forward), in which society faces the challenge of coping with intergenerational interests; with racial and ethnic diversity within aging populations; and with large numbers of elders because of increasing life span, as well as demographic cohort effects (e.g., baby boomers reaching retirement age). Chapters address the historical development of social policies, politics, economics, and speculation on aging in the 21st century. Torres-Gil suggests practical policies for the future, relating them to changing household structure, residential patterns, income distribution, labor force needs, and international migration patterns. Recommended for public, community college, undergraduate, and university libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

FERNANDO M. TORRES-GIL is President of the American Society on Aging and is currently Professor of Social Welfare at the University of California, Los Angeles. He previously was a Professor of Gerontology and Public Administration in the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California. He has served as Special Assistant to two Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Torres-Gil was a delegate to two White House Conferences on Aging and was Director of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging.