With increases in population aging and declining birth rates in industrialized countries well documented around the world, governments of the United States and other countries are facing policy challenges in addressing the health, financial, and social needs of a growing population of older adults. The purpose of this book is two-fold: 1) to introduce students to a number of topics on social policy and aging by discussing U.S. policies alongside examples of those enacted by selected countries around the world, and 2) to challenge students to think critically about the connection between macro social policy and its direct and indirect effects on the daily lives of real people navigating everyday life circumstances.