Facts and Fictions about an Aging America by the Macarthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society

The dramatic increase in life expectancy in the United States and all other developed nations in the 20th century is one of the greatest cultural and scientific advances in our history. Yet, we are woefully unprepared to address the challenges–such as potential conflicts aggravated by generational differences–and take advantage of the opportunities–unleashing the productivity inherent in a healthy elderly population, for example–that stand before us.