The dynamics of elderly support. The transmission of solidarity patterns between generations

This paper analyses the support given to the handicapped elderly by their children on the basis of a large survey done in France where both the elderly and their middle-aged children were interviewed. These data allow us to address such questions as: "Who helps?", "Who receives help?" and "According to what principles?". Besides the principle of need which is at work, the results show that there is also the principle of equity, which functions through reciprocity. This study highlights two main processes in the dynamics of support for the elderly, its redistributive effects (family support mainly benefits the poorest elderly), and its complementarity with the state health care systems (family support is mainly directed towards those who also receive public help). Can we make the deduction that the more generous the welfare state, the more developed family solidarity is? Nevertheless, some difficulties arise: support is mostly given by women. Furthermore there are a small number of people on whose shoulders it falls to take care of everybody else in the family. One sign of these difficulties is that the carers are more often in less good health than the non-carers of the same age. Comparisons from one generation to the other, including the youngest (the children of the middle generation who were also interviewed) shows that the younger generation will not want to be so completely involved in parental care at the expense of their own private time and life. Most probably family involvement will be maintained in the future, but to a lesser extent.