Abstract
AbstractThe number of relatives and geographical proximity between them affects informal support provided to older persons. In this study, we investigate whether (a) childless persons and parents living remotely from their adult children experience similar shortages in informal support, and (b) whether neighbours, friends and other non-family helpers compensate for these shortages. On the basis of Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data for 12 European countries, we estimate the probability and amount of informal non-financial support received by persons aged 65 and over who remain childless or live at different distances to their children. The contribution of non-family individuals is rather complementary to the help from family. Parents residing in the proximity of their children rely almost exclusively on family; as the geographical distance between adult children and older parents increases, the probability and amount of non-family support increase as well. But childless individuals differ from parents of remotely living children: the former rely on smaller support networks and resort more often to other relatives than the latter. Non-family individuals compensate for the scarcity of informal support only in the case of parents of distant children, but not in the case of childless individuals.
Highlights
With the onset of disability and loss of autonomy, help provided by family significantly improves the wellbeing and quality of life of older persons (Chiatti et al, 2013)
This kind of assistance is most often provided by professional carers or members of immediate family: spouses, children and siblings (Jacobs et al, 2018; Litwak, 1985), whereas the engagement of alternative sources of support remains rare (Lapierre and Keating, 2013). Does it mean that the lack of immediate relatives – at all or in the geographical proximity – leads to similar deficiencies in support experienced by older persons?
We examine in this study how the availability of adult children as potential providers of help relates to the involvement of persons from beyond the family
Summary
With the onset of disability and loss of autonomy, help provided by family significantly improves the wellbeing and quality of life of older persons (Chiatti et al, 2013). Non-family individuals cannot and fully replace relatives living in close proximity: while help with household tasks does not require any strong emotional tie and can be provided, for instance, by neighbours (Barker, 2002), personal care is intense and involves a high degree of intimacy This kind of assistance is most often provided by professional carers or members of immediate family: spouses, children and siblings (Jacobs et al, 2018; Litwak, 1985), whereas the engagement of alternative sources of support remains rare (Lapierre and Keating, 2013). Does it mean that the lack of immediate relatives – at all or in the geographical proximity – leads to similar deficiencies in support experienced by older persons?
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