ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses family communication in the latter part of the life span. Although older adults are typically thought of in their family roles as grandparents, they can also be spouses, siblings, parents, and even children themselves. This chapter begins with a brief discussion of aging and communication in general terms, then turns to focus on communication in specific family relationships: communication between spouses, communication between siblings, communication between older adults and their adult child(ren), and finally grandparent-grandchild interactions. Caregiving (including long-distance caregiving) and the problematic issue of elder abuse in family contexts are also discussed. Across these domains, the potential for communication both perpetuating negative beliefs about aging and cultivating positive experiences in later life is highlighted.
