Senior's Dependency and Intergenerational Support

Abstract

This paper talks from a sociological point of view about old people's dependency. The author considers dependency as a social construction, arround which a social setting of familiar and institucional networks arises; reciprocal influence between these two variables is also considered. The rising amount of the old people is taken into account, insofar as other actors that have also influence at the present times, and that make dependency become a social danger, which resembles unemployement or disease. The database is taken from a survey of 2.316 people of 75 and more years old. Organization of family members and influence o kinship relations, age, gender, and marital status on giving of help are analyzed; voluntary intergeneration relationships and available institucional and professional resources are also taken into account; family is seen as an alternative to rest homes according to the «solidariy rule», instead of delivery help service foressen in public administration plans.