Declines in childbearing, coupled with increases in life expectancy, have resulted in a demographic shift which is being felt around the globe – the growth of the elderly population. As family members reach their elderly years, they frequently find themselves in need of various forms of assistance. In many countries, governments attempt to provide such assistance – financial, instrumental, and other varieties. However, elderly people commonly turn to their own families, as loved ones are viewed as being the most reliable and immediate source of assistance and support. The provision of such assistance to elderly family members, however, often creates a wide array of tensions and dilemmas. Given the rapid growth of the elderly population, it is essential that greater research attention be focused upon elder care.
This edited collection provides a broad examination of elder care and the family. Including diverse theoretical and methodological chapters which explore the many issues pertaining to elder care, the collection covers topics such as financial strains of elder care, healthcare decision making, the impact of elder care upon family relationships, family communication, mobility and family residence, stress and burnout, gender differences in the provision of elder care, elder abuse, mental deterioration and family care, decision-making about elder residence, stressors related to care providers, and elderly well-being and family care, among others.
Elder Care and the Family: Relationships, Support, and Strain is appealing reading for scholars of family sociology, the sociology of education, and childhood and youth alike.