Population aging in the 20th century represents a human success story; for the first time in history, populations have the luxury of aging. Aging, however, also poses a myriad of challenges to public and private institutions that must adapt to a changing age structure. This article highlights national and regional similarities and differences in the global aging process, focusing on demographic and health trends that are likely to shape future institutional responses in the eldercare arena. Among the topics considered are the importance of past fertility patterns, changes in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, the feminization of later life, the growth of the “oldest old,” and changing national disease profiles associated with the epidemiological transition.
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