Human Aging and Retirement: Questions Unresolved and Resolved. Some Reflections on Contemporary Gerontology and its Relevance to Retirement Policy.

The report is a general multidisciplinary survey of current areas of interest in the field of gerontology, especially those having to do with retirement and the provision of social security. Chapter 1 discusses social security as an issue in gerontology and the concern of social security with retirement and aging. Chapter 2 discusses the "Third Age," and deals with problems which older people encounter. Chapter 3 discusses the differences between the life spans of men and women and the causes behind them. Chapter 4 discusses the statistical data on demography which is available and that which is needed. Chapter 5 deals with the significance, characteristics, and history of retirement, role changes, social security benefits, and the retired and defense of their interests. Chapter 6 discusses the particular effects of inflation on the older generation. Chapter 7 discusses the interaction of the elderly with their younger fellow citizens and the "disengagement" controversy. Chapter 8 discusses man's relation to his work and occupation. Chapter 9 discusses the meaning of functional age and whether or not it can replace the concept of chronological age. Chapter 10 discusses improvements in somatic health, problems of stress, and their relation to the "disengagement" controversy. An index to the document is included. (Author/JR)