Purpose: This study compared the official poverty rate for adults aged 65 years and older with alternative measures that portray the true resources and needs of older adults. Design and Methods: The analysis used data from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study on income, assets, in-kind transfers, and out-of-pocket medical expenses. It also…

This issue deals with the future of an age-based public policy. Articles discuss the history of age-based public policy; the competing bases for benefits; population dynamics; Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare; employer policies; and local and state policies. Describes California's Linkages Program. (JOW)

Projected implications of population aging are based on a definition of retirement age as 65. This article discusses the concept of "equivalent retirement ages" as a method for determining appropriate age for normal retirement and points out usefulness and limitations of raising normal retirement age as a policy instrument. (BF)

This paper looks at demographic and financial trends that can have an effect on the health care sector, the government reliance on projections of budget expenditures and the current budget deficit, and trends in health care expenditures and effects on the future of Social Security and Medicare. (MLW)

Aging is now one of the most important issues facing the United States. The challenge gerontologists are facing is to think about new ways to help broaden the debate about preparing for an aging society in a comprehensive manner that takes into account diverse disciplines and interest groups. (BF)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should take actions in four critical areas in order to serve the millions dependent on it for benefit payments and services. First, HHS should improve departmental management by investing in department-wide planning, its personnel, and its financial and information management. HHS can eliminate…

This book contains 15 articles on older workers and the challenges of health insurance, Social Security, retirement, job loss, and working until older ages. Following an introduction by the editors, the articles are organized in five sections that also include commentaries on the articles. The following are included in Section 1, "Charting…

This statistical handbook contains 378 tables and charts illustrating the changes in the United States' aging population based on data collected during the 1990 census and several other surveys. The tables and charts are organized by topic as follows: demographics (age and sex distribution, life expectancy, race and ethnicity, geographic…

This document's seven papers examine compensation and employment risk in the United States and Canada. "Introduction" (John A. Turner) discusses compensation risk bearing in labor markets. "Wage and Job Risk for Workers" (John A. Turner) explores the problems of macroeconomic instability, job turnover, job and earnings…