TITLE: FACILITATING THE HEALTH OF OUR ELDERS: ADDING THE CONCEPT OF
FAMILIAL EFFICACY TO DISCUSSIONS OF HEALTH AND CAREGIVING
The United States is aging (Hayward and Zhang 2001) with population of individuals 65 and
over is increasing rapidly (Goulding, Rogers, and Smith 2003). This new demographic shift will
affect the population in several ways. The economic support required by a growing retired
population could very well raise taxes (Lee and Tuljapukar 1997). This growing aged population
will also increase the overall population with disabilities resulting from chronic, but not fatal,
health issues (Murray and Lopez 1996). As a result, there will be new demands of
intergenerational exchange to facilitate social support (Allen, Blieszner, and Roberto 2000);
especially among those families who need, or choose, to utilize both formal and informal care-
giving (Couch, Daly, and Wolf 1999).
Combined with the demographic shift in the age structure of the United States, the family
as an institution has seen profound changes. There has been a rise in divorce rates since the
1950’s, later ages of marriage, differing familial structures and remarriages (Cherlin 1997;
McLanahan and Casper 1995). The differentiation of familial structures is important since
divorce, and even remarriage have adverse affects on the well being and social support of older
people (Pezzin and Schone 1999). Clearly, the intersection between social support needs and
changing family structure will be an important nexus regarding how aging population is cared
for.
The intersection between elder care and family structure also encapsulates race. Coupled
with issues of economic class, differences in the patterns of care in later years have been
demonstrated between blacks and whites. As (Cagney and Agree 1999) note: “Blacks are
postponing long-term care of any sort until later ages . . . there are important differences in the
way that family structure and social class operate across [whites and blacks] in response to the
need for long-term care. . . [but] Blacks are not counter balancing their lower rate of [formal care
E.
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H
EDBERG
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EPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
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NIVERSITY OF
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