The Myth of the Graying of America

An example of just how far off course our collective thinking can go is found in the myth of “The Graying of America.”

About ten years ago I attended a symposium on aging, which was sponsored by a major metropolitan newspaper. The panel of speakers prattled on about how the elderly were going to overrun the United States. Experts waxed eloquent about the design and layout of cities to accommodate the heavy wheelchair traffic. Doorways would be wider and curbs would need to be ramped. Apartments would all be one level and elevators would abound. I tried to picture elderly sidewalk rage as the sea of chrome wheelchairs jockeyed for position and waited for the walk light. (By the way, would they change the walk ...

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