ABSTRACT
It is well documented in the gerontological literature that the role of family is important in the lives of older adults (Blieszner & Bedford, 1996 ; Connidis, 2010 ; Hanna & Hargrave, 1997 ). Not only do family members provide a strong support network across the lifespan (Carstensen, 1992 ), they are seen as an integral part of older adults’ daily life while contributing to their overall wellness (Shanas, 1979 ). Yet, historically the application of aging issues in marriage and family therapy research and practice is rarely represented in the empirical literature (Flori, 1989 ; Lambert-Shute & Fruhauf, 2011 ; Van Amburg et al., 1996 ). Further, lack of training and knowledge among marriage and family therapists (MFTs) has been discussed among scholars (Barber & Lyness, 2001 ; Yorgason et al., 2009 ). As a result, MFTs may unintentionally disregard aging families in their direct practice as it has not received the attention it deserves (Hanna & Hargrave, 1997 ).
