ABSTRACT
Throughout most of human history, the family has been both the primary context of social integration for aged individuals and the principal provider of assistance and economic support to the elderly in need. In our society, a phenomenal growth in the population of aged individuals has occurred within the lifetime of today's individuals. There are more older Americans than ever before (between 25 and 30 million are over 65) and they are living longer. A 65-year-old man can expect to live until 79 and the average 65-year-old woman until 84. Today, we take survival into old age for granted. Such survival, however, brings with it new challenges for the elderly and their families. Although individuals have a much longer life span, they do not necessarily live in complete physical and mental health. In this chapter, I explore the role of family communication as it relates to the health concerns of the aged.
