ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part provides an overview of physiological changes, illness, and health care in later life. It discusses the patterning of chronic conditions by race, sex, and socioeconomic status — variables that also affect access to health care. The part examines data on selective survival among whites, Native Americans, and African Americans. It focuses on the phenomenon of “crossover,” or reversal in death rates in very old age. The part explores the extent of impairment within the older population, the service systems that must be constructed in order to promote optimal functioning among the disabled, and the changes in health care policy necessary to accomplish this goal. It presents estimates of the length of time an older person could pay out-of-pocket for nursing home care before using up their entire assets and savings.
