Reflection 2

What sorts of relationships are important in late adulthood?

• Friendships are important in later life because they offer personal control, companionship, and social support.
• Family relationships, especially with siblings and children, provide a great deal of emotional support for people in later life.
• In the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of elder abuse, parents who are socially isolated and in poor health may be abused by children who are forced to act as caregivers.

Think about yourself OR the people in your life who are currently in late adulthood. What kinds of relationships do they have? Are they the right kind? Are they beneficial to them or detrimental? What can be done to improve if needed?