This article examines the role of formal support services in the lives of elderly residents of HUD-subsidized buildings. Tenants identified a variety of formal roles as important in their lives. The three most central roles were physician (79%), apartment manager (58%), and social worker (51%). Formal roles were an important source of both instrumental and affective support in a wide variety of circumstances. Many individuals in formal roles were considered friends and the highly personalized nature of these relationships was a surprising finding.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barker, J. C.
, L. S. Mitteness, and S. J. Wood. 1988. "Gate-Keeping: Residential Managers and Elderly Tenants."The Gerontologist28:625-631.
2.
Cantor, M. H.1979. "Neighbors and Friends."Research on Aging1:434-463.
3.
Ehrlich, P.
, I. Ehrlich, and P. Woelke. 1982. "Congregate Housing for the Elderly: Thirteen Years Later."The Gerontologist19:169-174.
4.
Eckert, J. K.1980. The Unseen Elderly: A Study of Marginally Subsistent Hotel Dwellers. San Diego, CA: Campanile.
5.
Lally, M.
, E. Black, M. Thornock, and J. D. Hawkins. 1979. "Older Women in Single Room Occupant (SRO) Hotels: A Seattle Profile."The Gerontologist19:67-73.
6.
Litwak, E.1985. Helping the Elderly: The Complementary Roles of Informal Networks and Formal Systems. New York: Guilford Press.
7.
Milardo, R. M.1988. "Families and Social Networks: An Overview of Theory and Methodology." In Families and Social Networks, edited by R. M. Milardo. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
8.
Morris, J. N.
and S. Sherwood. 1984. "Informal Support Resources for Vulnerable Elderly Persons: Can They be Counted on, Why do They Work?"International Journal of Aging and Human Development18:81-97.
9.
Poulin, J. E.1984. "Age Segregation and the Interpersonal Involvement and Morale of the Aged."The Gerontologist24:266-269.
10.
Rosow, I.1966. "A Guttman Health Scale for the Aged."Journal of Gerontology21:556-559.
11.
Shanas, E.1979. "The Family as a Social Support System in Old Age."The Gerontologist19:169-174.
12.
Stephens, M. A.
and M. D. Bernstein. 1984. "Social Support and Well-Being among Residents of Planned Housing."The Gerontologist24:144-148.
13.
Stoller, E. P.
and L. L. Earl. 1983. "Help with Activities of Everyday Life: Sources of Support for the Non institutionalized Elderly."The Gerontologist23:64-70.
