Abstract
AbstractIn the midst of a ‘care crisis’, attention has turned again to families who are viewed both as untapped care resources and as disappearing ones. Within this apparent policy/demographic impasse, we test empirically theorised trajectories of family care, creating evidence of diverse patterns of care across the lifecourse. The study sample, drawn from a Statistics Canada national survey of family care, comprised all Canadians aged 65 and older who had ever provided care (N = 3,299). Latent Profile Analysis yielded five distinct care trajectories: compressed generational, broad generational, intensive parent care, career care and serial care. They differed in age of first care experience, number of care episodes, total years of care and amount of overlap among episodes. Trajectories generally corresponded to previously hypothesised patterns but with additional characteristics that added to our understanding of diversity in lifecourse patterns of care. The five trajectories identified provide the basis for further understanding how time and events unfold in various ways across lifecourses of care. A gap remains in understanding how relationships with family and social network members evolve in the context of care. A challenge is presented to policy makers to temper a ‘families by stealth’ policy approach with one that supports family carers who are integral to health and social care systems.
Highlights
Introduction and rationaleThe language of population ageing is embedded in national discourses about the wellbeing of societies and their members
In the Global North, drivers of population ageing such as low birth rates, increased longevity and improved survival of people with disabilities have been celebrated as evidence of effective public health strategies (Crosignani, 2010; Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014; Kingston et al, 2018)
These celebratory conclusions about the positive outcomes of population ageing stand in stark contrast to those that long ago were branded as ‘apocalyptic demography’ (Robertson, 1997)
Summary
Introduction and rationaleThe language of population ageing is embedded in national discourses about the wellbeing of societies and their members. In an effort to value all lives, the United Nations has resolved to leave no one behind (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2011) These celebratory conclusions about the positive outcomes of population ageing stand in stark contrast to those that long ago were branded as ‘apocalyptic demography’ (Robertson, 1997). Considerable alarm about the negative impact of population ageing still resonates in every sector from housing (Lund, 2017) to income security (Grech, 2018). Among these is widespread concern about a ‘crisis in care’ resulting from increased numbers of older people, with higher levels of disability and reduced funding to support them (Deusdad et al, 2016; Jagger, 2017). Evidence is mounting of frail older people with unmet needs for support (Humphries et al, 2016) and who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness (Smith and Victor, 2019)
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