Addressing the health needs of the aged in the U.S.A.

The segment of the population consisting of those sixty-five years of age and older will continue to grow in both absolute and relative terms. The fastest rate of growth will occur among those in the oldest age brackets where there is a greater amount of disability. Certain health problems are associated with behavioral factors that are sometimes amenable to educational interventions. This paper discusses structural aspects of the health care system that make such intervention efforts more difficult. An incomplete array of health programs, inadequate benefits, and lack of suitable training for health professionals are among the items considered.