Extended Family Support. The State and Policy: Assumptions, Attitudes and Actualities

Mervyl McPherson

In recent years economic policy has dominated social policy. In the area of social support this involves an increasing reliance on one’s family where neither the market nor the state is providing. Such policy relies on assumptions about the existence and operation of families that may not be valid.

This paper is based on a survey which attempted to quantify the extent of family resources an individual can potentially call on, and the type of help actually given and received. Perceptions of the role of the family and state were also gathered. Generally family was the preferred source of care, and women were the main providers of help. However, the findings reveal that up to a quarter of individuals do not have families potentially able to provide support, and that the support available does not cover the more demanding types that are the concern of policy. Willingness to help is seen as crucial, in that coercing people into supporting family members can have negative outcomes.

Overall, the survey supports the view that people want government assistance to support rather than replace family help, and to be responsive to family need.