Introduction to the Special Issue on Productive Aging in Honor of Frank Caro

This special issue covers topics related to productive aging around the globe, with data informing the studies coming from countries as diverse as Belgium, Italy, Korea, Spain, and the United States. The authors provide insights into productive aging research and explore potential strategies to handle key challenges posed by our 21 century aging societies. This special issue honors the legacy of Frank Caro, a pioneer in the area of productive aging. In his personal and professional life, Frank Caro studied and mobilized the productive potential of older people in society, organizing projects that responded to how society could draw more effectively on older adults to address community service needs, and creating new opportunities for productive participation of older adults (e.g., civic participation such as volunteering or providing long-term care).