ABSTRACT
We have seen in the previous chapter that community volunteers and elderly care
recipients emphasized the social meanings of social welfare activities rather than
their practical utility. At the same time, many hoped that social activities might
lead to the creation of effective eldercare community networks. The state has
encouraged the idea that community volunteers should be able to supplement, or
if necessary, replace family caregivers by helping neighborhood elderly with
daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and visiting the hospital.
The National Social Welfare Association suggests the following scenario: