Changing Families, Changing Care

Changing Families, Changing Care

1. Change in family structures has changed care

   • More divorce
   • Smaller families
   • High number of people living alone
   • families more spread out Country/world)
   • More women in paid work

2. Bethnal Green (peter townsend (1957)

   • to find out what has going on in commmunities as a bais for meeting needs of old age
     • Mrs Bliss
       • husband attends to personal needs
       • 5 Children organised a rota to sleep over
       • jointly ensured shopping and cleaning were done
       • family brought food, flowers, sheets and blankets
       • Shared news via telephone on a constant basis
   • 46% of older people lived with a younger relative
   • Most had relatives living near by
   • frequent contact
   • until seriously ill, older women reciprocate the care they recieve
     • essential feature
   • Those with no relatives were in worst postition

3. The new east end ( Geoff Dench et al (2005)

   • lot of lonely old people who not see a soul
   • Families members moved away
   • More children buyng there own homes as they ger older
   • changes associalted with changes in economy, housing policy and individuals wealth

4. Practicalties of managing care have become more challenging

   • Family more scattered around
   • Falls to fewer relatives
     • Highlights the need for more supprt

5. matter of public interest since late 20yh century

6. younger family member still feel that they have a responsibility to care for other older family member