The social context of geriatric care influences the risk of disease, the experience of illness, and the physician’s ability to deliver timely and appropriate care. The social status of the elderly, the changing demographics of health and illness, and evolving social values exert complex pressures on the patchwork of policies, programs, and services that constitute the continuum of care available to the elderly. Thus, the successful practice of geriatric medicine requires an understanding of the broader context in which illness occurs and care is provided.