CONCERNS REGARDING ADULT CHILDRENS ASSISTANCE - A COMPARISON OF YOUNG-OLD AND OLD-OLD PARENTS

This study describes differences between young-old (ages 60-74) and old-old (ages 75-90) parents' concerns regarding assistance provided by adult children. Old-old parents expressed more concern regarding amounts of help than did younger parents; there were no age differences in levels of concern regarding help outcomes. The percentage of children receiving parents' help and reliance on formal services predicted level of concern regarding help outcomes for the young-old parents, but not the old-old parents. Familism values and the extent of help received predicted level of concern regarding help amounts for the old-old parents, but not for younger parents. Implications for interventions to minimize parents' concerns and for further study of family assistance to the older people are discussed.