Rapid fertility declines and improved longevity are now shifting the overall balance of population towards older ages in many parts of the world. Within this growing population of older people there are many groups with particular needs about which relatively little is known. This collection focuses on one such sub-population, the elderly without children. Few would deny that childlessness poses potential human and welfare problems for older people without them. What is less well known is that comparative anthropological and historical demographic research indicates that childlessness is a recurring social phenomenon that has affected 1 in 5 older women in many cultures and historical periods. High levels of childlessness arise not solely or primarily from biological factors like primary sterility, but from a combination of actors. Many, like non-marriage, delayed childbearing , and pathological sterility, reflect the interaction of social and biological influences. Also of major importance are factors that remove the support of children from elders' lives: migration, mortality, divorce, remarriage, family enmity, social mobility, and the pressing demands of family and career on younger generations. The papers collected in this volume employ a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods to define and characterize the experience of ageing without children.

A lot of later life care is centred on the family. A member of a family, usually an adult daughter or son, informally care for an older parent. Families often include people who are not biological kin but who hold a similar status - 'fictive kin'. For example, a long-term neighbour or friend from school might be known as an Aunty or Uncle. Often the biological child or 'fictive kin' is the 'go-between' between older parent(s) and formal care services. They perform an essential role in maintaining the dignity and independence of the older person(s) and facilitate access into and out of care services. However, over the last few decades there has been a change in the shape of families. This change is linked to long-term decline in fertility rate, the rise in the age of mortality, economics, increase in divorce rate and stepfamilies. Not only are families smaller than they once were but there is an increase in number of people ageing without children. By 2030 it is estimated there will be over a million people aged 65 or over who are childless McNeil (McNeil and Hunter, 2014). The childless are a much under researched group and as a result they are often absent from both policy and practice information. Research shows that older childless people are not disadvantaged when they are well but should they need help they are more quickly taken into formal care settings than people with family (Albertini and Mencarini, 2014). Moreover, as men tend have smaller social networks and more likely to be estranged from adult children than women, they more likely to be placed in residential care than equivalent women (Arber et al., 2003).

Series number appears as v. 5 on ser. t.p. and v. 6 on cover. Publisher Web page indicates v. 6 is correct.

The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has serious implications for individuals and institutions alike. Childless men are mostly excluded from ageing, social science and reproduction scholarship and almost completely absent from most national statistics. This unique book examines the lived experiences of a hidden and disenfranchised population: men who wanted to be fathers. It explores the complex intersections that influence childlessness over the life course.

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.

Growing Old Without Children Doesn't Have to Seem So Scary Anymore! - This Is the Perfect Guide for Child-Free Seniors Who Want to Relate to Others, Gracefully Age, and Reflect on Their Lives Life's journey is a tapestry woven from the choices we make, and as we age, these choices become our greatest reflections. In the absence of children, you have a unique opportunity to explore and celebrate the path you've walked and, more importantly, to chart the course for the road ahead. This book is your trusted companion, your compass on this extraordinary journey. Within its pages, you will find not only validation for your choices but also valuable advice to navigate the challenges and transform your childless aging into a source of deep contentment and fulfillment. Discover: ● Stories of individuals just like you: Uncover stories from seniors who have embraced child-free lives with grace and wisdom. You'll never have to feel alone again. ● Chapters that address the topics closest to your heart: From financial advice to tips and tricks to living a healthier life, each chapter will cover topics to help make living life simpler. ● Ways to make life more exciting: Know that growing old doesn't have to be synonymous with boring. Explore new hobbies, find joy, and live a life you won't regret. ● And so much more! Written by a fellow child-less senior who draws upon extensive research, you've finally found the resource that understands your unique journey and can offer helpful advice to make your future seem brighter. No matter how hard the challenge may seem, I know that you can overcome them and come out stronger than ever! Get Your Copy Now!