The Family Life of Old People: An Investigation in East London

Abstract

‘Provision for old age has emerged as a “problem” largely because of the loosening of family ties and insistence on individual rights and privileges to the exclusion of obligations and duties which has developed so markedly in recent years. Whereas families used to accept responsibility for their old people they now expect the State to look after them … The care and attention which the family used to provide for them must be provided in some other way.’