ABSTRACT
The purpose of this final chapter is to present some conclusions about changes both in the family lives of our respondents, and their experience of being an older person in the three localities examined in this study. The questions here include: how have families and social networks changed over the forty to fifty years represented by our study? How different is the type of support which people receive as well as give? A further question concerns the policy dimensions related to our study, especially regarding support for families and older people within the community. As we move into a new century, issues relating to an ageing population are seen to be creating several dilemmas and concerns. To what extent do our findings add to these? Alternatively, is there a more optimistic message to be drawn from our interviews?
