The goal of this project is to identify how trends in aging have affected family structure in America. Despite changing notions of ‘the family’ in contemporary discussion, data shows a trend toward decreased fertility and increased life expectancy. This duality results in a larger elderly population in need of care, and a smaller youth population capable of providing it. The impacts of these trends on the family structure are often speculated, but research supporting such claims is lacking.
Older adults, those above the age of 65, make up a growing percentage of the population in the United States. This ‘greying of America’ means that more and more people are going to be leaving the workforce, and requiring care and government assistance. …show more content…
These caregivers can be in a unique position of having children of their own, who also require care. The tremendous pressure placed on caregivers to provide for everyone around them has been studied at length. However, research into changing family structures has been less prevalent in the literature. The caregiver might not be related to the care-receiver biologically; sometimes they are friends or neighbors who happen to be nearby.
In this study, I will be looking at the factors that influence family structure of aging individuals. The focus will be on multigenerational structures in which at least three or more generations belong to the same household. I will compare houses in which an older member requires more care, or those that have an elderly member with a chronic disease, against houses that do not.
The interactions between generations in such households create an alternate style of living than the traditional family structure that was discussed throughout this term. The notions of one mother, one father, and 2.5 children that serves as the norm is often far from what is actually being viewed. This research will look at interactions between members across generations. In essence, this means that in some families older adults serve as caretakers of children while the middle generation parents work. This is only one type of structure, but nevertheless, it can lead to unique experiences in the
Older adults, those above the age of 65, make up a growing percentage of the population in the United States. This ‘greying of America’ means that more and more people are going to be leaving the workforce, and requiring care and government assistance. …show more content…
These caregivers can be in a unique position of having children of their own, who also require care. The tremendous pressure placed on caregivers to provide for everyone around them has been studied at length. However, research into changing family structures has been less prevalent in the literature. The caregiver might not be related to the care-receiver biologically; sometimes they are friends or neighbors who happen to be nearby.
In this study, I will be looking at the factors that influence family structure of aging individuals. The focus will be on multigenerational structures in which at least three or more generations belong to the same household. I will compare houses in which an older member requires more care, or those that have an elderly member with a chronic disease, against houses that do not.
The interactions between generations in such households create an alternate style of living than the traditional family structure that was discussed throughout this term. The notions of one mother, one father, and 2.5 children that serves as the norm is often far from what is actually being viewed. This research will look at interactions between members across generations. In essence, this means that in some families older adults serve as caretakers of children while the middle generation parents work. This is only one type of structure, but nevertheless, it can lead to unique experiences in the