ABSTRACT
Two inexorable demographic trends – urbanization and population ageing – have generated widespread concern in recent years. The projected large increase in urbanites in developing countries has been well documented (see Introduction and Chapter 1). Meanwhile, the later stages of the demographic transition are being marked by huge increases in the population of older persons. This raises many questions concerning the probable quality of life of these growing, older cohorts. Developing countries, characterized by limited access to social services, high incidence of poverty and low coverage of social security, are particularly challenged to meet their needs.
