Social Networks amongst older people and their implications for social care services: A cross national comparison Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton With Dr Phil Haynes and Professor Michael Hill This work is supported by UK ESRC research grant: RES

Background to project Comparing older people’s social networks in 18 countries, including 5 non-European Using a 50+ sample from the ISSP 2001 dataset Key variables include contact with close and extended relatives, friends and social and community groups.

Objectives To compare older people's social networks in national countries; To examine social support networks for older people in national countries, including support provided by partners and families; To explore differences in typical social network patterns between selected countries; To compare differences in social network patterns between men and women; To identify support network 'types' and dominant cluster types within countries and shared between groups of countries; To examine differences in older people's attitudes towards social support between national countries; To examine if there is any association between national differences in social network trends for older people and patterns of paid work for this age group; To examine if there is any association between national differences in social network trends for older people and social care policy patterns, as recorded by international bodies like the OECD, WHO and UN; To consider the UK policy implications of the findings, with reference to policy interventions to sustain social support networks amongst older people and drawing relevant lessons from the experience of other countries.

 How often see adult child

 How often see sibling

Frequency of contact with a close relative  % see close relative at least once a week

Bar chart showing the proportion living alone, by contact with adult child, and by country

Family contact by length of time lived in locality

Relationship between % see close relative at least once a week and % who turn first to an adult child when ill

Relationship between % see close relative at least once a week and % of married respondents who turn first to their spouse when ill

Public expenditure on long-term care by proportion of older people in population

Public expenditure on long-term care by GDP per head

Contact with a close relative by GDP per head

Public expenditure on long-term care by contact with a close relative

Public expenditure on long-term care by contact with a close relative (excluding outliers)

Public expenditure on long-term care by % living in a 3+ person household