ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the literature on self-help among the elderly and their families. Self-help has provided a compensatory social support network for the elderly and as collectivities have been organised for family members of the elderly, for working out solutions to care-giving dilemmas and for acquiring information about assistive formal services. The chapter discusses support groups and educational self-care groups for the elderly. Semantics make appraisal of self-help groups even more difficult since groups similar in content or format have been referred to by different names — mutual help group, change group, support group, self-care group and self-help group. Support groups for care-givers indirectly serve the same purpose as groups for the elderly that is, sustaining and enriching the lives of independent older adults. The chapter deals with peer counselling and other formally organised support systems of older adults by elderly para-professionals.
