The aging, the aged, and the very old: women the policy makers forgot.

The nation's policy on aging has not adequately addressed the disjuncture between the compelling increase in the number of aged and the changing family and social roles of women. There is a continuum of mid-life, aged and very old women engaged in inter-generational exchange of care, who have unmet needs both as care givers and care receivers. Shortcomings in public policy arrangements are discussed, along with proposals for a national policy on aging that focuses on the family as a caring unit.