This is the first book in the series of Age Concern Institute of Gerontology (ACIOG) at King's College London. It demonstrates the scope and challenge of gerontological inquiry and understanding. The subjects in this text range over basic biology, practical physiology, geriatric and community medicine, nursing studies, the history of social policy, social care practice, demography, the analysis of social statistics and educational theory. The last three chapters attempt to point to the way ahead and include discussions of a number of priority research and policy questions.