Ageing & Social Welfare in the United States

In early America, older people often remained within household economies in which property, inheritance and authority linked generations. Industrialisation, migration and urbanisation weakened some forms of family support while creating new wage, savings and institutional arrangements.

During the twentieth century, pensions, Social Security, Medicare, retirement norms and specialised medicine made old age a more distinct stage of life. Benefits expanded security for many people but remained uneven by race, gender, occupation and wealth.

Growing Old in America combines demographic and cultural history to show that attitudes towards age are historically constructed and that public policy can either deepen dependence or support dignity and participation.