Includes bibliographical references (pages 236-238) and index.

ch. 1. What are the economic consequences of an aging population? Global aging poses long-term economic, geopolitical, and national security challenges / Mark L. Haas -- An aging population can drive economic growth / Robert D. Hormats -- An aging population will cause economic stagnation and a rise in poverty / Eric Laursen -- An aging population requires reforms to health care and social security programs / Committee on the Long-Run Macroeconomic Effects of the Aging U.S. Population, National Research Council -- An aging population is bankrupting Medicare / Abdul El-Sayed -- An aging population will save Medicare / Michael Hodin -- There needs to be a national strategy to deal with the financial exploitation of the aging / Kay E. Brown -- ch. 2. What are the social and legal issues related to an aging population? Age discrimination in the workplace is a problem / Elizabeth Rogers -- Age discrimination in the workplace is not a problem / Diana Furchtgott-Roth -- New strategies are needed for aging job seekers / Charles A. Jeszeck -- Aging populations worldwide should have strong legal protections / Elaine Kurtenbach -- States must address the issue of aging drivers / Emily Yoffe -- ch. 3. Is Social Security viable and effective for an aging population? Social Security is a popular and effective program / Center on Budget and Policy Priorities -- Social Security is an ineffective program / Jagadeesh Gokhale -- Social Security is a Ponzi scheme / Robert P. Murphy -- Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme / Los Angeles Times -- Social Security should be abolished / Laurence M. Vance -- Social Security should be strengthened / Janice Gregory -- ch. 4. What medical challenges face an aging population? Caring for an aging America in the twenty-first century / Robyn I. Stone and Linda Barbarotta -- Dementia: a public health priority: executive summary / World Health Organization -- Seniors' sex lives are up, and so are STD rates / Marni Jameson -- Depression in older persons / Ken Duckworth, M.D., NAMI Medical Director -- Seniors should have better access to medical marijuana / David Downs -- Seniors have growing rates of addiction and substance abuse / Jennifer Matesa.