ABSTRACT
Striking changes are occurring in the age structure of the populations of most economically developed countries, and the United States is no exception (Rice and Feldman 1983; Siegal 1980). Although the population of the United States has undoubtedly been growing older for two centuries, until recently these developments have been relatively unnoticed. However, recent changes in the age structure of the population have been of such magnitude as to have been labeled variously as a “demographic revolution” (Myers 1981; Pifer and Bronte 1986) or the “graying of America.” Between 1960 and 1985 the population aged 65 and over increased by 70.8 percent, compared to 26.2 percent for the younger population (National Center for Health Statistics 1987; Rice and Feldman 1983). In 1978, 73 percent of those 65 years of age could expect to reach age 75, compared to 61 per cent in 1940. Projections regarding future changes in the population age structure suggest that 17 percent of the population in 2020 will be age 65 or older (Siegal 1980; Siegal and Taeuber 1986).
