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Obligations for Care: Beliefs in a Small Canadian Town

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Christine Storm ,
Thomas Storm  and
Janet Strike-Schurman
Christine Storm
Affiliation:
Mount Allison University
Thomas Storm
Affiliation:
Health Promotion Directorate Health and Welfare Canada
Janet Strike-Schurman
Affiliation:
Université de Moncton
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Abstract

A combined questionnaire and interview procedure was used to explore the perceptions and obligations to assist a frail old person with physical care, financial aid, and psychological support. Subjects for the interview were 80 women aged 18–25, 30–45, 50–65, and 65–85 years, all residents of a small town in Maritime Canada. The questionnaire was omitted in the case of the oldest group. The results showed that children were perceived to have a strong obligation to assist, substantially reduced, however, by circumstances such as geographical distance or financial exigency. The obligation of government was also strong for all but psychological needs. Siblings, friends, and the church were perceived to be common sources of assistance, particularly psychological, but with significantly less moral obligation compared to other sources. Differences between age groups were small. The interviews, however, showed the youngest group to be less realistic and more absolute about children's responsibilities for old people than were old people for themselves. Similarly, the oldest subjects were more likely than younger subjects to stress the responsibility of the old person for his/her own welfare.

Résumé

Un questionnaire et une entrevue combinés ont servi à explorer la façon dont on perçoit l'obligation de venir en aide aux personnes àgées et affaiblies qui ont besoin d'une assistance physique, financière et psychologique. Les sujets se composaient de 80 femmes âgées de 18 à 25, 30 à 45, 50 à 65 et 65 à 85 ans, toutes domiciliées dans une petite ville des provinces maritimes du Canada. Le questionnaire n'a cependant pas été administré au groupe le plus âgé. Les résultats révèlent que les enfants sont censés être dans l'obligation d'aider leurs parents, obligation que peuvent cependant mitiger les circonstances, comme l'éloignement ou les difficultés financières. L'obligation de l'État est également bien sentie, sauf en ce qui concerne les besoins psychologiques. Les frères et soeurs, les amis, et l'Église sont perçus comme des sources d'assistance, surtout psychologique, mais leur obligation morale est plus faible. Les différences entre groupes d'âge sont minimes. Les entrevues révèlent toutefois que le groupe le plus jeune est moins réaliste et plus absolu à l'ègard de la responsabilité des enfants envers les vieillards que ne le sont les personnes âgées elles-mêmes. De même, les personnes les plus âgées insistent davantage sur la responsabilité qu'ont les vieillards de se prendre en charge.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , June 1985 , pp. 75 - 85
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1985

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