This paper extends an earlier analysis of the geography of caregiving to elderly relatives (Joseph & Hallman, 1996), by closely examining the implications of time-distance between family caregivers and their older relatives. We hypothesize that overlaying a highly gendered social behaviour (eldercare) onto the distinctive time-space geographies of men and women will translate into demonstrably different “eldercare geographies”. Analysis of data from two interrelated CARNET surveys suggests that female and male caregivers provide assistance within very different time-space contexts. Women demonstrate greater engagement with caregiving and more extensive commitments to travel in order to provide assistance. This “distance-defying” behaviour translates into the use of residential relocation as a means of modifying time-space in order to improve caregiving provision. In contrast, male caregivers are more sensitive to the limiting effects of time-distance, including the manipulation of their eldercare geographies. The paper concludes with a discussion, based on comments made by caregivers, of the negative impacts of eldercare involvement, focussing on perceived effects on personal time for other family relationships.

Based on data from a random sample of foreign-born Chinese elders (n = 708) interviewed in Vancouver and Victoria in 1995–96, this paper examines the extent, determinants, and consequences of ethnic identification. Of the respondents, who have a median age of 75 and a median age at immigration to Canada of 55, 49.3 per cent stated that they felt more Canadian than Chinese, 36.6 per cent felt more Chinese, and 14.1 per cent felt equally Chinese and Canadian. Logistic regression analysis is performed, in an attempt to discover the determinants of Chinese ethnic identity. Significant independent variables include: place of residence, age, years since immigration, English-speaking ability, and personal monthly income. Consequences of retention of Chinese ethnic identity are explored, in terms of religious affiliation, health-related behaviours, family variables, and well-being variables. Only well-being is affected by retention of Chinese identity, an effect that is negative and felt largely by women only.

The demographic shift towards an older population in Canada has led to concerns about the increased share of society's resources required to provide health care, social assistance, public pensions, housing, etc. for this group. Preoccupation with this problem, however, has obscured the fact that seniors actively contribute tosociety in many ways, not the least of which is the provision of substantial amounts of unpaid time contributions of various sorts. Using data from the 1992 General Social Survey on Time Use (cycle 7), this paper estimates the amount and market value (at replacement cost) of unpaid help -both informal help to others and formal help to organizations — of individuals age 55 and over. Travel time in connection with unpaid help is also analysed. We find that participation rates and average hours are higher in the informal help sector relative to the formal sector both by age and by gender. The estimates also show that the market value of these contributions is substantial, and that seniors contribute a disproportionate share of the value of unpaid help contributed by all individuals over the age of 25.

This study examines the perceptions of childlessness reported by 287 childless respondents aged 55 and over who were part of a larger study (n - 678) on aging and social support. Sixty-seven per cent (n = 193) report advantages to childlessness and 64 per cent (n = 185) report disadvantages. Qualitative data show that key perceived advantages are fewer worries or problems, financial benefits, greater freedom, and career flexibility. The major disadvantages are lack of companionship/being alone/loneliness, lack of support and care when older, and missing the experience of parenthood. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the effects that gender, marital status, age, and childless status (childless by choice or by circumstance) have on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of having no children show that there is variability in perceived advantages only. When we compare specific perceived advantages and disadvantages to related experience, only some perceived benefits (financial advantage) are associated with actual experience. Findings are discussed in the context of actually experiencing costs and benefits versus sharing widely-held beliefs about childlessness.

This study examines the links between four organizational features of private housing for older persons (service level, perception of environmental control level, tolerance level of caregivers toward seniors and their input in decision making) and the social integration of seniors. This last variable is assessed according to four indicators: presence or absence of meaningful relationships, satisfaction with social life, feeling of loneliness and number of contacts with neighbours. The results obtained by analysing the logistic or ordinal regression and the odd ratio associate two of the four organizational variables studied to most of the social integration indicators irrespective of the subjects' vulnerability level. The two features are service level and perception of environmental control level.

This study examined the attitudes of independently living older persons aged 65 and over towards informal and formal care on the basis of an eight-item scale “receptivity towards informal support”. Further, the relationship between these attitudes and the preferences for care arrangements in various (hypothetical) care-need situations differing in type of care needed and the expected duration is investigated. Beyond the previous experience with receiving care, and individual and social characteristics of older persons, the attitudes towards care showed themselves to be a strong predictor of the care preferences of older people. The authorities might use the attitude towards care as a steering instrument for altering older persons' preferences for and use of services in the long term.