The increasing life expectancy seen in developing countries has coincided with massive migrations due to urbanization, industrialization, and disasters, both natural and man-made, to cause acute physical and psychological suffering for many old people and their dependents. In this study, Tout takes the first in-depth look at this phenomenon and proposes a new approach to the special needs of the elderly in developing countries. Describing successful national programs already in place for the elderly, he highlights lesser-known difficulties, such as the responsibilities grandmothers may have to assume in the face of heterosexually-transmitted AIDS, and the consequences of the disintegration of the traditional extended family in countries too poor to provide pension schemes.
