Major long-term public policy issues related to the aging of the U.S. population are examined. Chapter one provides an overview of trends pertaining to the future elderly population, emphasizing some of the issues Congress may need to address in the near future. Sources of support for the elderly are also examined. Employment and retirement issues are the foci of the second chapter. The key policy issue discussed is how to provide cost-effective incentives to an increasing proportion of healthy elderly who can work in a productive economy free of age discrimination and without penalizing those who must retire early. Chapter three discusses the allocation of health care resources. It points out that Congress will have to struggle to balance issues such as government regulation, quality, freedom of choice, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity across society as it makes policy in this area. The concluding chapter deals with long-term care, defined as helping people live their lives rather than as extended medical care. Also provided are brief highlights of legislation affecting the elderly and a bibliography. (RM)