The informal support networks of African American elders have an important impact on the effectiveness of social service interventions. The author identifies and discusses critical functions performed by second-and third-generation adult kin (niece, nephew, and grandchild) in the care and support of low-income African American elderly. Complementary functional roles and tasks performed by grandchildren, nieces, or nephews assist the elderly as well as the primary caregiver in interacting with the formal service system. Practitioners need to be knowledgeable about and sensitive to the complexities of kin support networks of African American elderly.
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