G. Clare Wenger - The Supportive Network

Volume 36

THE SUPPORTIVE NETWORK

G. CLARE WENGER

First published in 1984 by George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd.

This edition first published in 2022

by Routledge

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1984 G. Clare Wenger

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-03-203381-5 (Set)

ISBN: 978-1-00-321681-0 (Set) (ebk)

ISBN: 978-1-03-207437-5 (Volume 36) (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-03-207449-8 (Volume 36) (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-00-320698-9 (Volume 36) (ebk)

DOI: 10.4324/9781003206989

Publishers Note

The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.

Disclaimer

The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and would welcome correspondence from those they have been unable to trace.

G. Clare Wenger

G. Qarc Wenger, 1984.

This book is copyright under the Berne Convention. No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved.

George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd,
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George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd,
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Allen & Unwin, Inc.,
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George Allen & Unwin Australia Pry Ltd,
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First published in 1984.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Wenger, G. Clare

The supportive network.(National Institute

social services library; no. 46)

1. AgedWales, NorthSocial conditions

Case studies 2. Wales, NorthRural

conditionsCase studies

I. Title II. Series

305.260926 HQ1064.G7

ISBN 0-04-362056-6

ISBN 0-04-362057-4 Pbk

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Wenger, G. Clare.

The supportive network.

(National Institute social services library; no. 46)

Bibliography: p.

Includes index.

1. AgedServices forWalesCase studies. 2. Social

work with the agedWalesCase studies. 3. Aged

WalesFamily relationshipsCase studies. I. Title.

II. Series.

HV1481.G54W35 1984 362.609429 846298

ISBN 0-04-362056-6

ISBN 0-04-362057-4 (pbk).

Set in 10 on 11 point Times by Preface Ltd, Salisbury, Wilts. and printed in Great Britain by Billing and Sons Ltd, London and Worcester

In memory of

MARY LEWIS BAXTER

and

TINA MAE WENGER

whose spirited independence well into their nineties first made me conscious of what old age can offer

and for

Alex, Max and Matthew Wenger

their great-grandsons, who formed the link between them.

Acknowledgements

1 The Research Context

Introduction

The Question of Community

Methodology

The Study Population

Plan of the Book

2 The Social Context of Care

Informal Care

The Family

Friends and Neighbours

Voluntary Organisations and Community Involvement

Isolation and Loneliness

Informal Support Networks

Life Satisfaction and Adaptation

Conclusions

Part Two Access

3 Mobility and Communications Systems

Health, Mobility and Physical Dependency

Availability and Use of Communication Systems

4 Access to Basic Goods and Services

Services Needed on a Week-to-Week Basis

Health Services

Social Services and Social Security

Voluntary Organisations

Clergymen

Insurance Men

Satisfaction with Professional Services

Overall Satisfaction with Community Services

The Question of Access: Summary and Conclusions

Part Three Social Environment

5 Family, Friends and Neighbours

Close Relatives Living

Children

Grandchildren

Brothers and Sisters

Overall Contact with Relatives

Relatives Seen Most Often

Visiting

Social Contacts on Christmas Day

Contacts with Neighbours and Other Members of the Community

Friendship

Confidants

Summary

6 Voluntary Association and Spare-Time Activities

Membership

Attendance at Meetings

Church or Chapel Membership

Hobbies, Interests and Spare-Time Activities

Summary

Part Four Support

7 Help and Helpers

Introduction

Help Given by the Elderly

Help Received by the Elderly and Sources of Help

Conclusions

8 Support Networks, Isolation, Loneliness and Morale

Support Networks

Isolation and Loneliness

Morale

Summary

9 Elderly People Coping

Mr Annwyl

Miss Probert

Mrs Charrington

Mr Ellis

Mrs Fenwick

Miss Gwynne

Mrs Hughes

Mrs Ivor

Mrs Jones

Mrs King

Mrs Lowell

Mr Morgan

Summary

Part Five Signposts

10 Independence versus Dependence

11 Policy Implications

Appendix 1 University College of North Wales, Bangor. Elderly in the Community: Questionnaire

Appendix 2 Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale

References

The research on which this book is based was funded by a grant from the DHSS as part of a larger programme of work conducted by the Social Services in Rural Areas Project at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. During the conduct of the study I have been lucky to have had the support, advice and encouragement of other members of the team: Dr Gordon Grant, Mr Jim Black and Miss Elizabeth Tarran and, early in the project, Mr John Turner, whose death in a road accident was a great shock to all of us. I would like to express my thanks to these colleagues for their help and friendship and to also thank Mrs Angie Rowlands and Mrs Angie Martin, without whose assistance and tolerance in all the practical matters involved, the task would have been overwhelming. Angie Martin in particular has borne the brunt of typing and retyping the manuscript with commendable cheerfulness and efficiency. I am also grateful to other friends and colleagues who also read, advised and/or commented on parts or all of the manuscript, including Miss Tilda Goldberg, Professor Roger Hadley, Mr Robin Huws Jones, Professor Roy King and Mr Bob Woodward.