Abstract
The growing number of elderly persons presents all developed nations with problems that are unprecedented in human history. For older adults with fragile social support systems and meager resources, longer life may bring protracted periods of poor functioning and dependency. In the United States, the aging of the population creates unique challenges for social policy and the institutions that are charged with their support. More than one-quarter of the nation's population is expected to be 65 and older by 2030, and more than one-third will be living into their eighth, ninth, and tenth decades of life (Passel and Cohn 2008). Equally important, an ever-larger fraction of this older population will consist of Latinos (Arias 2012). Additional trends such as the long life expectancy and disproportionate burden of chronic disease and disability among elderly Latinos have important implications for Latino families and for relations among generations, as well as for the future of programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Later-Life Social Support and Service Provision in Diverse and Vulnerable Populations |
Subtitle of host publication | Understanding Networks of Care |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis |
Pages | 38-53 |
Number of pages | 16 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781351839440 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780415788304 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2017 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology