Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I. Introduction and Overview
Chapter 1: Older Persons in a Family Context
The Relevance of Studying Family Relationships in Older Age
The Place of Older People in Families of the Past and Present
Dimensions of Family Ties and Plan of the Book
Chapter 2: The Availability of Family Ties in Later Life
Demographic Trends and Family Structure
The Availability of a Marital or Intimate Partner
The Availability of Children
The Availability of Grandchildren
The Availability of Siblings
Living Arrangements in Later Life
Part II. Intimate Ties
Chapter 3: Intimate Ties in Later Life
The Significance of Marital Status
Chapter 4: Long-Term Intimate Partnerships: Marriage and Same-Sex Unions
Gay and Lesbian Partnerships
The Impact of Life Transitions on Intimate Ties
Chapter 5: Transitions in Intimate Ties: Loss of a Long-Term Partner
The Death of a Same-Sex Partner
Dissolution of Same-Sex Relationships
Chapter 6: Being Single in Later Life
Portrayals of Being Single
The Transition to Being Single
The Lives of Older Single Persons
Gay and Lesbian Singles in Mid- and Later Life
Chapter 7: New Opportunities for Intimacy in Later Life
Dating and Steady Companions
Sexual Intimacy among the Unattached in Later Life
Part III. Intergenerational Relations
Chapter 8: Exploring Intergenerational Relations
Perspectives on Intergenerational Relations
Older Parents and Their Adult Children
Chapter 9: Support Exchanges Between Older Parents and Adult Children
Perspectives on Support Exchanges
Parental Support to Adult Children
Child Support to Older Parents
Chapter 10: Childless Older Persons
Transitions to Childlessness
The Impact of Being Childless on Social Activity and Support in Later Life
The Impact of Being Childless on Quality of Life in Older Age
Chapter 11: Grandparents and Grandchildren
Availability of and Contact with Grandparents and Grandchildren
The Nature of Grandparent–Grandchild Relations
Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren
The Death of Grandparents
Chapter 12: Partner Transitions, Stepties, and Intergenerational Relations
The Impact of Divorce on Ties between Older Parents and their Children
The Impact of Divorce on Grandparent–Grandchild Ties
Remarriage, Stepties, and Intergenerational Relations
Part IV. Sibling Relationships
Chapter 13: Sibling Ties in Middle and Later Life
Unique Features of Sibling Ties
Availability of and Contact with Siblings
The Nature of Sibling Ties in Later Life
Chapter 14: Life Transitions and Sibling Ties
The Impact of Changes in Marital and Parental Status
Aunts and Uncles, Nieces and Nephews
Sharing Caring for Parents
Support Exchanges Among Older Siblings
Summary and Conclusion to Part IV
Part V. Research and Policy
Chapter 15: Research and Policy: Issues and Directions
Summary and Conclusion to Part V
References
Index
About the Authors