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Diverse Family Structures and the Care of Older Persons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2015

Karen A. Roberto*
Affiliation:
Center for Gerontology and Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, Virginia Tech
Rosemary Blieszner
Affiliation:
Center for Gerontology and Department of Human Development, Virginia Tech
*
La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. Center for Gerontology and Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment 230 Grove Lane (0555) Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 (kroberto@vt.edu)

Abstract

Demographic and social trends lead to a variety of micro-level and internal structural contexts that influence caregiving in families with older members. The results of macro-level changes have received little focused attention in the aging literature, where much of the caregiving research has addressed issues within the context of traditional family structure. Yet the conventional nuclear family model is increasingly uncommon as new, pluralistic models of family life are emerging in contemporary society. The majority of elder care is provided by relatives, albeit with varying patterns of involvement and responsibility across family structures. Both conventional and pluralistic families face challenges in meeting the care needs of their oldest members, leaving some older adults at risk of having unmet needs. Additional research on family risk and resilience related to the care of older relatives is warranted, particularly with respect to pluralistic models of family life.

Résumé

Les tendances démographiques et sociales aboutissent à une variété de contextes structurels internes à un niveau micro qui influent sur la prestation de soins pour les familles avec des membres plus âgés. Les résultats des changements au niveau macro ont attiré peu d'attention sur les études du vieillissement, où une grande partie des recherches sur la prestation de soins a traité de questions dans le contexte de la structure familiale traditionnelle. La plupart des soins aux personnes agées est fournie par des parents, bien qu'avec les modes d'engagement et de responsabilité dans les structures familiales variées. Pourtant, le modèle de la famille nucléaire conventionnelle devient de plus en plus rare, puisque nouveaux modèles pluralistes de la vie familiale apparaîssent dans la société contemporaine. Les familles conventionnelles et pluralistes, tous les deux, font face aux défis en répondant à la nécessité pour les soins de leurs membres les plus anciens, en laissant certaines personnes âgées à risque de ne pas avoir réponse aux besoins. Des recherches supplémentaires seront justifiées au sujet du risque et de la résilience de la famille relative à la prise en charge des parents âgés, particulièrement concernant les modèles pluralistes de la vie familiale.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 

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