Aging and Caregiving: Theory, Research, and Policy

It has been estimated that seventy to eighty per cent of all care provided to the elderly comes from family members. To facilitate the caregiving process, more information is needed concerning ways in which caregivers address this responsibility, the burden and stresses associated with caregiving, the ways in which existing services are utilized and the implications for social policy. This book provides human service practitioners, policy makers, researchers and students with a comprehensive analysis of the role and function of family caregiving in societies with dependent elderly populations. It begins with an overview of theoretical, conceptual and methodological issues in caregiving. A number of empirical studies which address these issues are then presented. Finally the contributors explore the implications for social policy resulting from our understanding of caregiving knowledge, identify gaps and provide new studies which address these gaps, give direction to practice interventions and illuminate implications for public policy. The volume makes timely reading for all students and professionals of ageing, family studies, social work, health and nursing, psychology and policy studies.Biegel, David E. is the author of 'Aging and Caregiving: Theory, Research, and Policy' with ISBN 9780803935679 and ISBN 0803935676.