Older people’s experiences of getting help from neighbours

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate older people’s views and experiences of getting help from neighbours in order to consider whether such help is situated within neighbourliness and the implications for social care policy which seeks to harness help from neighbours. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study in which 15 older people from the North of England were interviewed to explore relationships with neighbours, managing day to day life and experiences of getting help from neighbours. Findings Relationships with helper neighbours were reciprocal, dynamic and preceded the start of getting help. The help offered was not negotiated but evolved in response to changes in circumstances and was commensurate with normative views of neighbourliness, i.e. reciprocated sociability and helpfulness but also respect for privacy. Respondents were reluctant to ask for help. Underpinning such reluctance were perceptions of imposing on neighbours, suggestive of anticipated asymmetry in the give-and-take of neighbourliness. Social implications Policy makers who see the help from neighbours as an output of household production and available as a source of informal care for older people must appreciate that whether help is offered or taken up is dependent on the development of a reciprocal relationship which itself depends on observing and respecting normative boundaries, such as in relation to help giving or receiving and due respect for privacy. Originality/value There has been little research into older people’s perspectives on getting help from neighbours despite diminishing public services and neighbours viewed as a potential source of care.

Urban green spaces for the social interaction, health and well-being of older people— An integrated view of urban ecosystem services and socio-environmental justice

“…This is in line with earlier studies on strong relations between neighbors that find weak ties to be the starting point for establishing helping arrangements (Henning & Lieberg, 1996;Kohlbacher, Reeger, & Schnell, 2015;Nocon & Pearson, 2000). For those receiving care, this stepwise intensification of neighborhood ties contributes to keeping the relationship with neighbors on an appropriate level for people living next door (Grime, 2018). In our focus group discussions, none of the participants received help beyond small things, such as exchanging keys or help with gardening; intensive support was only reported from the carer's perspective.…”

Does spatial proximity supplant family ties? Exploring the role of neighborly support for older people in diverse, aging cities

“…This is in line with earlier studies on strong relations between neighbors that find weak ties to be the starting point for establishing helping arrangements (Henning & Lieberg, 1996;Kohlbacher et al, 2015;Nocon & Pearson, 2000). For those receiving care, this stepwise intensification of neighborhood ties contributes to keeping the relationship with neighbors on an appropriate level for people living next door (Grime, 2018). In our focus group discussions, none of the participants received help beyond small things, such as exchanging keys or help with gardening; intensive support was only reported from the carer's perspective.…”

Help From and Help to Neighbors Among Older Adults in Europe

“…Our results showed a high reciprocity among the participants for neighborhood help as well as helping or receiving help from others; herein people who helped their neighbors also helped others and people who received help from others also obtained help from neighbors. Some researchers have proposed that reciprocity is an important element for a neighborhood-based caring community and the provision of help precedes the receipt of help (Greenfield, 2015 ; Grime, 2018 ). Reciprocity reflects that older adults were not only the recipients but also the providers of assistance for others in the neighborhood and often filled gaps in services and support (Hand et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Future studies should investigate the possibilities for neighborhood participation for older adults who do not provide or receive neighborhood help. Grime ( 2018 ) found that older adults were often reluctant to ask for help; therefore, it is important that neighborhood contacts should be promoted by local social institutions and policy makers. Nevertheless, Nocon and Pearson ( 2000 ) warned policy-makers and practitioners against overreliance on the assistance from neighbors, which cannot replace professional social support; accordingly, it is important to combine professional care with (existing) neighborly assistance (Pleschberger and Wosko, 2017 ).…”

“…Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the determinates of given and received neighborhood help among older adults. Despite reductions in public services and the general view of neighbors as a potential source of informal support for older adults, few studies have documented older individuals' perspectives on receiving help from and, particularly, giving help to neighbors (Grime, 2018 ). It is, therefore, important to assess the factors affecting neighboring, herein defined as given and received neighborhood help.…”