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The importance of older family members in providing social resources and promoting cancer screening in families with a hereditary cancer syndrome
- Authors:
- ASHIDA Sato, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 51(6), December 2011, pp.833-842.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study investigated the role of older family members in providing social resources within families affected by an inherited susceptibility to cancer. Two hundred and six respondents from 33 families identified 2,051 social relationships. Nineteen per cent of the respondents and 25% of the network members were over 60 years. Younger respondents, 59 years or less, were more likely to nominate older network members as providers of social resources than younger members’ instrumental support, emotional support, help in crisis situation, and dependability when needed. Older members were more likely to be listed as encouragers of colon cancer screening by both younger and older respondents independent of whether support exchange occurred in the relationship. The authors concluded that engaging older family members in health interventions to facilitate screening behaviours younger family members may be beneficial. Older people should be encouraged to facilitate positive social interactions in cancer screening.
Exploring generational intelligence as a model for examining the process of intergenerational relationships
- Authors:
- BIGGS Simon, HAAPALA Irja, LOWENSTEIN Ariela
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(7), October 2011, pp.1107-1124.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article discusses an emerging model of intergenerational relationships that places oneself in the position of a person of a different age. It examines an experiential approach that draws on sociological thinking on generational consciousness and on the relationships between conflict, solidarity and ambivalence. The main emphasis is on the processes of generational experience, and a distinction is made between the informational knowledge that is available to social actors and the degree to which it is possible to act intelligently. The latter highlights the steps that would need to be taken to become critically aware of age as a factor in social relations, including the relative ability to recognise one's personal generational distinctiveness, acquiring understanding of the relationship between generations, critical awareness of the value stance being taken toward generational positions, and finally, acting in a manner that is generationally aware. The article concludes with a discussion of how generational relations can be encouraged. Implications for future research into intergenerational relationships is presented.
Stability and change in the intergenerational family: a convoy approach
- Authors:
- ANTONUCCI Toni C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(7), October 2011, pp.1084-1106.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper describes the factors that influence supportive relations within intergenerational families, beginning with a description of the changing structure of the intergenerational family. It shows how personal characteristics, especially gender, race, age and socio-economic status, and situational characteristics, in particular family structure and intergenerational context, influence support exchanges. These exchanges are described with special attention to the unique circumstances of care-giving in intergenerational families, while also exploring the differences in the quality of intergenerational relations. Positive and negative support exchanges and their influence on wellbeing are discussed. The paper considers the implications of change and stability in intergenerational relationships, and makes recommendations about how best to plan future intergenerational family support. The paper concludes that societies and families with fewer resources must be innovative in meeting the needs of older people as well as those of all family members.
Fertility history and quality of life in older women and men
- Authors:
- READ Sanna, GRUNDY Emily
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(1), January 2011, pp.125-145.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper investigates the associations between the fertility histories of older British women and men and their quality of life. Data was included from men and women born between 1923 and 1949 as drawn from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). Quality of life in 2001 was measured for 6,374 individuals using four subscales: control; autonomy; pleasure; and self-realisation. The aspects of fertility history investigated were number of children born and parents' ages at birth of first and last child. Other factors included: age; education; marital status; tenure status; smoking; co-residence with one or more children; perceived social support; and health limitations. Findings revealed that early entry to parenthood were related to poorer quality of life. These associations were mostly mediated by socio-economic, social support and health factors. Compared to women with two children, women who had never had children expressed a higher level of autonomy, and both women who had never had children and those with four or more children a higher level of self-realisation.
Need and support: determinants of intra-familial financial transfers in Sweden
- Author:
- LENNARTSSON Carin
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 20(1), January 2011, pp.66-74.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Inter-generational financial transfers, or the passing down of wealth, are recognised by scholars as a crucial part of the inter-generational link in modern societies. This paper examined downward inter-generational intra-family financial transfers in Sweden made in the form of money transactions or gifts. The paper asked whether recipients of intra-family financial transfers are children in need of such support, and whether early family environment has any consequences for later financial transfers. The study, using data from a nationally representative survey, suggested that childhood disadvantages had long-term consequences in connection with intra-family financial transfers, where disadvantages and inequalities in childhood were likely to remain into adulthood. Children who experienced adverse childhood conditions were less often recipients of later intra-family financial support. Intra-family transfers were also related to the needs of the younger generation. Single parents and students from higher social class families were more often beneficiaries of financial support.
Informal caregiving for elders in Sweden: an analysis of current policy developments
- Authors:
- JOHANSSON Lennarth, LONG Helen, PARKER Marti G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 23(4), October 2011, pp.335-353.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Care of older people is a public responsibility in Sweden, with public policies and programmes providing health care, social services, pensions, and other forms of social insurance. However, families are still the major providers of care for older people. In the context of a 2009 amendment in the Swedish Social Services Act recognising the importance of informal caregivers, and policies promoting support for family caregivers, this paper examines the process leading to the amendment and its implications for the division of responsibility between the state and family. It looks at the Swedish context and background, services for older people and their families, the development of social services legislation from the 1980s, "rediscovery" of the family, and the role of voluntary and private sectors. It also discusses the new legislation and support to caregivers, noting that family caregivers have received more recognition but that reductions in public services have had negative repercussions for caregivers, and that it is too early to say how the changes will affect informal caregivers.
The living–dying interval in nursing home-based end-of-life care: family caregivers' experiences
- Authors:
- WALDROP Deborah P., KUSMAUL Nancy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54(8), November 2011, pp.768-787.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Most chronic care nursing home residents are in the living-dying interval, which encompasses the period of chronic morbidity prior to the dying process. Enhanced care during the transition from routine to palliative care is important for nursing home residents and their family members. The aim of this study was to explore family members' experiences with a loved one who died in a nursing home, and the nature of the living-dying interval from their perspectives. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 caregivers of residents who had died. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Analysis revealed 3 main themes and their subthemes that illuminated the families' experiences on the living–dying interval. The acute medical crisis which preceded the nursing home admission included: trigger events; accumulation of stressors; and level of care crisis. The living–dying phase included: advance care planning; hospitalisation; and end-stage decisions. Finally, the terminal phase included: beginning of the end; and awareness of dying. These results illustrate critical periods for social work intervention with families of dying nursing home residents.
Balancing generations: on the strength and character of family norms in the West and East of Europe
- Authors:
- DAATLAND Svein Olav, HERLOFSON Katharina, LIMA Ivar A.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(7), October 2011, pp.1159-1179.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined the strength and character of responsibility norms between older parents and adult children. Quantitative data from the ‘Generations and Gender Survey’ were investigated to compare seven countries from Europe, namely Norway, Germany, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia and Georgia. Norm strength is measured as the level of support for family and parental responsibility norms. Character differences are indicated by how conditional the norms are, and how they are balanced between generations. Findings revealed that family norms were stronger towards the East and South of the Europe, with Norway and Georgia as the extreme cases. National differences were considerable for familial norms, but moderate for parental norms. Parental responsibility was relatively stronger in the North West, familial responsibility in the South East. Women were less supportive of family obligations than men. The authors concluded that where the welfare state is more developed, it has moderated the demanding character of family obligations and lead to a more independent relationship between generations.
Too old to care?: the experiences of older grandparents raising their grandchildren
- Author:
- WELLARD Sarah
- Publisher:
- Grandparents Plus
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There are an estimated 25,000 grandparents over the age of 65 raising 30,000 grandchildren in the UK. This report focuses on the experiences of older grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The study involved: a survey completed by 32 grandparents aged over 65; and in-depth interviews and a focus group with 18 grandparent carers aged over 65. The report highlights the challenges older carers face, including isolation, discrimination and poverty. It shows how older grandparents face prolonged legal battles, lack of support and financial hardship as they fight to care for their grandchildren. Often they are managing very difficult relationships with the children’s parents. Most of the grandparents have limiting health conditions and many are providing care and support for an adult relative or partner. Many say they have asked for help from children’s services but not received what they needed. Others avoid contact because they fear the children they are looking after will be taken away. Despite the challenges, they are able to provide children with love, stability and continuity of family relationships. The report concludes with a number of recommendations for improving the support provided to them and the children they are raising.
Family obligations and support behaviour: a United States - Netherlands comparison
- Authors:
- COONEY Teresa M., DYKSTRA Pearl A.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(6), August 2011, pp.1026-1050.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In this article, the authors examine family responsibilities and support in 2 countries with different social welfare policy regimes, focusing on middle-generation adults who have both a living aged parent and adult offspring. The study draws on national datasets from the United States (the National Survey of Families and Households) and the Netherlands (the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study). The article discusses family obligations and family support behaviour and policy context, and presents and discusses the data analysis and comparison of key variables. It reports that the study found that Americans reported stronger feelings of obligation to support ageing parents and adult offspring than Dutch respondents, but that Dutch respondents are more likely to engage in family support behaviours with both younger and older generations. The authors conclude that Dutch respondents are more likely to act on their individual preferences whereas American respondents are more influenced by general norms of obligation towards family members, and discuss the findings in terms of social policy differences between the 2 countries.