The book presents critical perspectives on population ageing. In particular, the contributions take issue with the demographic determinism (apocalyptic demography) that has taken hold in Canada whereby population ageing, specifically the ageing population bulge known as the baby boomers, is viewed as a severe social problem in the making. The book focuses on the social policy consequences--in pension policy, health policy, family and caregiver policy--that are occurring as a result of apocalyptic demographic thinking. One of the main themes is the way in which population ageing is being used as a rationale for dismantling the Canadian welfare state, particularly by neo-conservative political parties. Another important theme in the book is a view of intergenerational relationships that focuses on the reciprocal linkages between the elderly and their children, providing a critique of the 'elderly as burden' image pervasive in the public mind and policy directions.

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Gloria Gutman has a B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and an M.A. from the University of Alberta. She is well known in the field of gerontology as an educator, author, and consultant. Dr. Gutman developed and directs the Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University. She is the author/editor of eighteen books and over a hundred scholarly articles, reports, and papers. Her research insterests are wide-ranging; they include seniors' housing, long term care, health promotion, dementia care and environmental design.