The changing structures of families have changed the needs of the elderly.
The concept of the family structure as husband, wife and children has changed and, therefore, requires a fresh look at caring for the elderly, according to the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog in “Recent Study Finds Complex Family Structures Lead to More Complex Elder Care.”
When husband, wife and children was the only type of family, the “nuclear family” could be presumed to be the case for most people.
It was also assumed that elderly people would have nearby family members, usually adult children, who could and would care for them. However, a recent study has found that with family structures changing, the presumption that an adult child will be around to care for an elderly person may be inaccurate.
This creates severe problems for many elderly people, since it is difficult for them to find and receive proper care.
