In this text for courses addressing public policy, social policies, international demographics, and aging, authors Wacker (U. of Northern Colorado) and Roberto (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State U.) emphasize the person-policy link often missing in other textbooks on aging social policies, by adding interviews with older adults from the US and other developed countries in each chapter to provide insight into the human concerns behind policies. Part I offers a foundation on the context of aging social policy by introducing the demographics of worldwide aging, discussing the elements of the policymaking process, and looking at key US and international social policy initiatives on aging. Part II offers international comparisons of aging social policy in separate chapters devoted to seven areas, such as employment, retirement income, housing, and health care. Each of these chapters provides an in-depth review of US policy and a comparison to several other countries. Part III examines challenges facing the future of aging social policy. The text includes numerous summary boxes, tables, and graphs, plus b&w photos of people interviewed. Annotation ⓒ2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)