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Originally published in 1986, this title was a landmark study of ageing in Australia and a major contribution to the study of gerontology at the time. It highlights major themes on ageing in 'western' industrialised societies, as well as pinpointing new, emerging themes. For instance, the initial speculations in the 1960s that informal groups such as the family, neighbours, and friends play crucial helping roles for older people. The book also presents data and summarises past studies that show the common characteristics of those delivering and receiving services, such as the special role of women; and within that gender related services, the special importance of children and spouses, the importance of close proximity when people are chronically disabled, the fact that most retired people manage their own lives without help and in fact provide services to their children, and much more, is dealt with. It also looks at how such informal support works alongside the formal agencies, such as nursing homes. The systematic study of how informal and formal systems link together was one of the gaps in gerontological research at the time.