Dependency and old age: social policy responses

Abstract

Let us assume that dependency is a real, observable, identifiable, measurable phenomenon - a characteristic that is part of the make up of all population groups within our society, but particularly observable as it relates to elderly people. Regardless of whether the dependency is physical or mental, related to the life cycle and life cycle relationships, whether it is politically or socially or economically created and structured, let us accept that it is part of our social reality. As sociologists we need to be able to understand what it is, where it came from, and what our society's response to it might be.