Abstract

In Caring for Our Own, the author has presented an important thesis among long-term care givers: The government simply is not there when the family is unable to contend with demands of assisting a family member who needs long-term assistance. Not only do government entities in the United States usually offer little help in this situation, but the family members themselves ask little of their government. The author sets out to evaluate this lack of demand by the family caregivers upon their government. By studying different support groups for family caregivers in Los Angeles, the author provides insight into not only emotions and perceptions of the caregivers but underlying reasons why this area of social policy remains relatively non politicized.