In defining family policies, we have a very strong tendency to compartmentalise or, perhaps, Departmentalise the components of family life, rather than attempting to examine the broad needs of the family. We identify a problem related to an individual, say unemployment. We then treat the problem as if it is an individual problem. We talk a lot about the unemployed individuals, but we do not hear much about the impacts on the children. Consider the impact on a child of the long-term unemployment of the child's father.
Aged care is another area in which a broader conception of family and policy is required.
This is not to suggest that this should not be the case, but it does indicate a lack of consideration of the existence of the family beyond the household who may be willing, and with some support, be able to care for the aged person living on their own. Aged care may be a matter, for example, of a more family-friendly workplace, so that people with the care of an aged person may be able to receive telephone calls at work, or leave the workplace for a short period, and so on. Or it may be a matter of the provision of occasional care for children. It may also be a matter of providing resources to the healthy aged to assist them to support their parents or friends. Future policies with a family focus need to recognise the interaction between the various spheres in the life of an individual and take account of the interactions between individuals within a family.