ABSTRACT
In recent years, Shanas (1979a, 1980) has done much to dispel the once commonly held myth that the elderly become more and more alienated from thier families and die lonely deaths in inhumane institutions. Families tend to provide much support for elderly members and continue to fulfill this “familial duty” throughout the elder’s life-span. Meeting this responsibility is often difficult and draining emotionally, if not materially. Circumstances sometimes combine to make the task even more difficult. Brubaker and Brubaker (1981) noted that approximately 20% of the elderly live with relatives and the potential for greater levels of stress for all parties concerned is increased. Regardless of living arrangements, the “aging family” often undergoes changes and challenges specific to dealing with a frail elderly member. The question of how best to provide therapeutic services to such families is beginning to receive the attention it deserves in the professional literature.
