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 A magazine of forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future. November-December 2000, Vol. 34, No. 6 |
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About This Issue No article has hit me closer to home than health-care industry executive Sam L. Ervin's piece in this issue on the trends affecting the elderly. (See page 24 in the print edition.) As I write, my 80-year-old father is in a cardiac intensive care unit following quadruple bypass surgery, still on a ventilator and unable to tolerate long visits. My brother and I are worried about him for many reasons--his health, his finances, his mental state. And we're not alone. Many of our friends (baby boomers like us) are facing similar issues with their own parents. In "Fourteen Forecasts for an Aging Society," Ervin explores major forces affecting elder care. There are reasons both to worry and to hope, he believes. It is possible, for example, that women's progress in shattering the glass ceiling will be deterred as they are pressed into caregiving roles. On the other hand, the graying baby boomers will likely put pressure on the health-care system, public policy, and even product manufacturers to make the process of aging easier in the future--for the elderly themselves, for their families, and for society as a whole. Outlook 2001 Robotic pets could soon outnumber the furry, feathered, and finned kinds; grocery stores may disappear as food producers and consumers connect directly with each other; and brain maps could help educators tailor curricula to each student. These are just a few of the more intriguing forecasts we collected for the World Future Society's annual Outlook report. The report is designed to stimulate your own thinking about the future and its many alternatives. Each forecast includes a source identifying the issue in which it originally appeared so that you can easily find more information; back issues of THE FUTURIST are just $4.95 each plus $3 shipping. And of course extra copies of the Outlook report are available, too--they make great gifts for clients, conference participants, customers, teachers, students, and anyone with an interest in the future. To order, just use the coupon included in the report, or call, write, fax, or e-mail the Futurist Bookstore. All contents Copyright © 2000 World Future Society. |
