An Investigation into Interchange between Elderly Women and their Separated Adult Children in Melbourne:

Abstract

This paper is designed to empirically investigate interchange between elderly women and their separated adult children. To gather empirical evidence, a sample survey of elderly women was conducted in a local government area of Melbourne in 2005-06. The analysis revealed the following three points; (cid:7555) The closer to his or her mother a child lived, the more frequently the mother could obtain instrumental and emotional support from her child and socialised with her child. (cid:7556) Elderly woman used their sons or daughters differently for gaining social support and association, depending on the characteristics of social support and association. (cid:7557) Whether elderly women come from Australia or not, the years of elderly women (cid:96) s residence at the present address, the presence or absence of elderly women (cid:96) s husband and children living together, elderly women (cid:96) s divorce or separation, the number of elderly women (cid:96) s children and whether elderly women drive a car or not affected the availability of social support from their children and association between elderly women and their children as well.