ABSTRACT
This chapter helps readers to understand the differences in social supports used by seniors from various minority groups and appreciate the role that culture plays in shaping a social support systems. Informal support takes many forms, including advice, affection, companionship, helping older family members with transportation, and nursing care. As the pool of informal supports for older people shrinks in the future, families and older people will rely more on formal supports. Abused older people who live in isolation, who have disabilities, or cognitive impairment never come to the attention of authorities. In the future, informal supporters will rely on formal supports to help them care for older family members. Caregiving can put a strain on the care-giver and on family life. Caregivers felt less burden if they had good family supports, if they had a care receiver with milder cognitive impairment, if they used formal services, and if they took care of themselves.
