The Family Life of Old People. An Inquiry in East London.

1958 ◽  
Vol 68 (271) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Dorothy E. Cole ◽  
P. Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Old People ◽  
The Family

Talking with Peter Townsend

2018 ◽  
pp. 46-76
Author(s):  
Charlotte Greenhalgh
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
The State ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
Old People ◽  
The Family ◽  
Real Work

The family lives of elderly people attracted fresh concern in the postwar years when more old people lived alone and used welfare services. Sociologist Peter Townsend spent many hours speaking with each of 203 interviewees when he researched the topic in East London in 1954–1955. Townsend highlighted ignored contributions of older people to family life. He showed that families, not the state, did the real work of aged care. During interviews, older people told life stories that illustrated their hard work and stoicism, and that challenged sociological theories. Most did not fear death, but only the suffering of loved ones. While a few could not find the words, the majority were confident storytellers: this chapter explores their unpublished stories.

scholarly journals The Family and Disability - Some Reflections on Culture: Discussion Paper

1989 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 666-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
A O Frank
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Adjustment Process ◽  
Old People ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Family Unit ◽  
Personality Changes ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Ideal

Severe congenital impairments in one child will affect the whole family, possibly for a generation if the child remains at home as an adult. Disability acquired in adult life will affect both partners as roles are gained or relinquished. For children this may result in a loss of parenting. The adjustment process to any psychological or personality changes may be very painful, particularly if children have no one outside the family to provide informed support. Acquired illness or disability in children may have enormous consequences for siblings, the health of the parents and the whole fabric of family life, often resulting in family isolation. In some Asian families, the feeling that the extended family unit is self sufficient and able to provide care may conflict with the ideal of increasing independence fostered by the professionals, and limit the possibility of support from social workers or psychologists. The extended family may reduce the need for statutory support. The expectation that care will be provided to old people by their daughters or daughters-in-law may be frustrated if the younger generation of women are disabled or otherwise engaged, resulting in possible family strife or rejection.

The Family Life of Old People. An Inquiry in East London

Population ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
P. P. ◽  
Peter Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Old People ◽  
The Family

The Family Life of Old People

1959 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-90
Author(s):  
G. F. Streib
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Old People ◽  
The Family
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