Family practices in later life
By: Pat Chambers ... [et al.].
Contributors: Chambers, Pat, 1950-
Series: Ageing and the lifecourse
Publisher: Policy Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Bristol; Portland, OR
Language: eng
Number of pages: 124
ISBN-13: 9781847420534; 9781847420527
Subjects: Older people -- Great Britain -- Social conditions; Intergenerational relations -- Great Britain; Families -- Great Britain
Description: There is no shortage of political and moral commentary on family life. Frequently the underlying theme of these commentaries is the decline of contemporary family commitment, particularly when older people's family experiences are the focus. "Family Practices in Later Life" challenges many common stereotypes about the nature of family involvement as people age. The book explores diversity and change in the family relationships older people maintain, looking at how family relationships are constructed and organised in later life. It recognises that the emerging patterns are a consequence of the choices and decisions negotiated within family networks, emphasising older people's agency in the construction of their family practices. In exploring such themes as long-term marriage, sibling ties in later life and grandparenthood, the book highlights the continued significance of family connection and solidarity in later life, while recognizing that family relationships are inevitably modified over time as people's social and material circumstances alter. "Family Practices in Later Life" will be of interest to students, researchers and academics in the fields of social policy, family studies and social gerontology. It provides a valuable contribution to the developing field of critical social gerontology as well as to an understanding of family process.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-120) and index.