In her new book “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age,” author Susan Jacoby challenges the fantasy of medical miracles that will forever prolong youth, insisting that only through realism can we actually increase the quality of life for the eldest among us.
We should expect our golden years to be happy, healthy and comfortable — as long as we follow the advice of TV health gurus and marketers of longevity cures and retirement communities. But for many aging Americans the reality is far less rosy, especially as medical costs soar and benefits decrease.