Is there a future for the informal homecare of older people in a changing society?

The objective of the research reported here was to provide an opportunity to raise issues relevant to the ongoing debate on informal care of older people by exploring the attitudes of both men and woman towards the care of dependant older people. The sample (n = 174) was drawn from age cohorts 20-39 years (n = 90) and 40-59 years (n = 84). The men and women who participated in the study were members of the general public. The self-administered survey questionnaire was designed to examine attitudes towards the informal care of older people and to determine if men and women differ not only in attitude but also in their willingness to undertake certain aspects of care, and whether the age of the respondent was likely to be a defining factor. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. The results established that an overwhelming majority of women demonstrated a greater willingness to provide care to a dependant older relative.