While the Federal Government has been involved in the care of the elderly since the depression, a comprehensive and unified national retirement policy has never been established. Federal programs for the aged have avoided cutbacks, but adaptations in present retirement policy are required to meet the needs of young and old alike. Although public policy gives the elderly the right to work, it provides incentives for those who leave the labor force at or before age 65. The major criticism of present retirement policy is that it discourages labor force participation of older persons through economic disadvantages for continued work and mandatory retirement regulations. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act has been amended to raise the minimum retirement age from 65 to 70. Changes have also been enacted in the Social Security system. Vocational educators can take action to enhance the participation of older persons in the labor force by expanding public awareness of the needs and abilities of the elderly, examining the recruitment of elderly persons, obtaining training to implement effective vocational education programs, examining attitudes toward older people, reviewing the potential of programs to serve the elderly, and assisting older persons to remain productive in their retirement. (YLB)