Part I: Domestic Policy in the United States 1 Public Policy in the United States and Canada: Individualism, Familial Obligation, and Collective Responsibility in the Care of the Elderly 2 Federal Policy and Family Life of Older Americans 3 Advance Directives, Surrogate Health Care and Decision Making and Older Families 4 Undermining Stereotypes of the Old Through Social Policy Analysis: Tempering Macro- with Micro-Level Perspectives Part II: Domestic Policy in Canada, 5 Caring and Sharing: Demographic Aging, Family and the State 6 Developing a Home Care System to Meet the Needs of Aging Canadians and Their Families 7 Policy Failure in Geriatric Acute Care: The Impact on Family Caregiver 8 Advance Directive Policy in Canada: The Impact on Older People and Their Families Part III: Comparisons and Conclusions 9 Conclusion