New perspectives need to be gained on the roles of older adults and older workers in the new millenium. Because today's adult is healthier, policies concerning social security, retirement, and work need to be changed. There is a need for acceptance of various types of aging. Rather than mandating specific retirement, the individual should have more control over when he or she wants to retire. Old notions of senior citizens and demeaning stereotypes of older adults must be eliminated. Social constructionists focus on understanding and explaining the individual process of aging as influenced by social definitions and structures. Understanding the social construction of age will enable those who work with older adults to include various expressions of aging. Adult, continuing, and community education must incorporate these new ideas and examine their own ideas about aging and the older worker. The government's perspective of a social security system must be revamped. One suggestion is to create a national saving account for each individual used throughout his/her life focusing on medical needs. Older adults should be considered a viable part of the workplace. Policies should incorporate older adults into the regimen of the workplace. These new ideas will require ongoing learning and development that can be met through the practical ideas of adult education, workforce development, and higher education. (Contains 13 references.) (YLB)