Helping Families Cope With Elderly Parents

An exploratory study of noninstitutionalized black urban elderly living in age-homogenous apartments in Detroit, Michigan and their informal social support systems

“…Consequently, this situation has the potential of producing stress for both the adult children and parents. Despite the growth of the number of services provided by formal organizations for elderly people, the expansion has not kept pace with the growing number of older persons who could poten tially avail themselves of the services (Olsen and Cahn, 1980). Yet, many elderly people complain that community-based services are too im personal and inappropriate.…”

“…Yet, many elderly people complain that community-based services are too im personal and inappropriate. Therefore, this causes them to avoid the utilization of the services provided by the organizations (Olsen and Cahn, 1980). Instead,"they rely upon the primary groups in their informal social support system to assist them.…”