這篇文章之主要目的係在探討全球性已開發國家與發展中國家之老人問題與其因應之公共對策。第一段將界定老人之基本概念；第二段將說明造成老人問題之理論學說包括了人口老化說、文化阻隔說、價值衝突說、社會解組說、反常行為說以及生物老化說；第三段將討論現代之老人問題，分為巨觀的老年人口政策、經濟發展、收入安全、醫療照顧、社會福利、老人退休規劃、老人住宅設計、老人教育休閒等政策層面與微觀的老人心理社會生活適應問題，諸如老人失去身份地位、老人安養、老人虐待以及臨終關懷與安寧服務等問題；第四段將提出如何解決老人問題之公共政策、對於人口政策與優生政策之建議、如何因應老人醫療福利之嚴重負擔、建立全民性之社會安全與醫療保健制度、設立長期照顧保險制度、改善老人住宅環境，仿效日本之集合住宅，或是學習美國之協助生活社區，制定老人教育與休閒政策，而依據老年期身心發展之不同階段設計不同之教育休閒方案。對於大量老人退出生產市場問題，提出延後退休與老人再教育、鼓勵老人從事志工服務，使老人能夠活到老、學到老、愈不老。就微觀之老人心理社會生活適應，提出各類不同型態之心理社會服務方案以應老人所需。在結論方面強調老人晚期要建立老人之社會安全制度，要提供老有所養、老有所安、老有所醫、老有所住、老有所愛、老有所樂、老有所歸之境界。

This paper presents the macro and micro problems of the aging population and the elderly psychosocial adjustment. The macro issues of rapid population growth over the world, particularly in the areas of China and Taiwan, the heavy burden of medical care, social security and social welfare budgets for the elderly, and the large volume of elderly human power retired from labor markets and economic production lines are examined. The micro problems of personal adjustment after retirement; psychosocial crisis, living arrangement and poor housing, chronic diseases and medical care needs, as well as hospice services are discussed. Suggestions for policy-making in the areas of population control, family planning, national health plan, social security program, and preventive geriatric education, gerontology, public health, and psychiatric social work as well as senior education and leisure services are strongly recommended.