Americans are living longer than ever as a result of advances in medicine. A byproduct of our successes in this area is an ever-increasing aging population whose health and well-being has never been as significant a national and state issue as it is today. According to a 2003 report from the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the Division of Aging, the state ranks 10th in the nation in the number of older persons, with about 2.3 million residents age 50 and older – that represents 28 percent of the total North Carolina population. The health issues for people age 50 and older range from osteoporosis and Alzheimer's to prescription drug management and eldercare quality. North Carolina Now correspondent Christine Rogers moderates a panel of leading experts to discuss the health issues affecting North Carolina's older population on Healthwise: Senior Health.