In the past 20 years, the number of women over 65 has grown enormously. A woman alive at the end of the 20th century can expect to live 27 years longer than her 19th century ancestor. And among the "oldest old" – those aged 85 and over – women outnumber men 2-to-1. This dramatic decrease in mortality rates and increase in life expectancy has created a need for quality care and services for older women. As women live longer, they become significant consumers of health care and human services as they face chronic health problems, losses encountered in later years, and impoverishment. This new book presents recent medical research on important topics dealing with women and aging.