Abstract:

This chapter examines the task of daily living and seeks to answer whether respondents are independent and how and to what extent they negotiate support in these areas. The findings debunk several popular misconceptions: most older people are independent and contributing, the small minority who are dependent generally rely on family rather than community or institutional services. Filial ties are exmained because they involve complex patterns of instrumental as well as expressive interdependence over the entire life course. The chapter also pays close attention to gender. The 'currency' of instrumental changes which may involve substantial dependence on one or two people is shown to contrast sharply with the many expressive indeterpendencies explored in Chapter 4 of this book.