Challenges of Aging on U.S. Families

Policy and Practice Implications

Examine the changing structure of the family as America’s population ages!

As the United States’ economy evolves and manufacturing jobs disappear, the prospect of each generation experiencing a standard of living that exceeds that of their parents’ generation also disappears. Challenges of Aging on U.S. Families: Policy and Practice Implications explores this trend, presenting the latest original research on the changing roles of caregivers along with the economic and emotional effects on the family unit. Respected authorities discuss in detail long-term care and the standard of living of families, with a focus on the effects of changing family structures on families themselves and society at large.

The coming boom in the population of the aging will impact families at several levels. Challenges of Aging on U.S. Families thoroughly examines the economic demands of aging on families, then focuses on different roles elderly family members are likely to play over the next several decades. Some of the issues explored include “skipped generation parenting” where children are raised in grandparent homes where neither parent is present, the impending economic impact of caregiving on families, the stress on families with fewer siblings to share the caregiving tasks, and the tendency for family members to live in different parts of the country and subsequently become unable to offer caregiver support. Detailed tables provide clarity of thought while comprehensive bibliographies offer further opportunity for study.

Challenges of Aging on U.S. Families discusses:

• the economics of aging

• the implications of aging economics and emotional stress on the future of families

• the coming labor shortage of caregivers

• family-based intervention in residential long-term care

• shifting relationships between parents and their children caregivers

• self-esteem issues involving daughter caregivers

• paying family caregivers-as public policy

• a proposed policy of requiring adult children to care for their aging parents

• inheritance and intergenerational transmission of parental care

• the inherent psychological stress within skipped generation families

Challenges of Aging on U.S. Families: Policy and Practice Implications is an eye-opening text for researchers, health professionals, social workers, counselors, caregivers, educators, and students.