| This study analyzes data collected from a blanket sample of elderly persons ($n = 218$), residing in eight urban nursing homes. The central concern was to find out whether families stayed involved with nursing home residents.;We have converged social exchange and symbolic interactionism in order to examine family interactions from a broad perspective. By selecting two ethno-religious groups, namely: Italo-Catholics and White Anglo-Saxon Protestants, we are able to compare across groups. Data were collected between November, 1991, and August, 1992, through face-to-face interviews and observations.;The findings indicate that the sampled residents maintain close ties with families and friends. Furthermore, the relationships are not simply a case in which residents become passive recipients of relatives' goodwill. Rather, sustained interactions are rooted in reciprocity, albeit asymmetrical. That is, elderly residents exchange mostly at the psychological level through expressions of gratitude, feelings of indebtedness, and the giving of advice; while relatives and friends give extrinsic benefits and much of their time in support of the residents.;Helping behaviours between residents and their families appear more beneficial to the former partners, but more costly to the latter. Delayed reciprocity is an important concept for explaining the theoretical concern as to why an unbalanced relationship persists.;A statistically significant difference was observed, indicating that delayed reciprocity is more important for Italo-Catholics than for Protestants. Support for Italo residents is based in part on their call for dutiful help from their children, and on their children's expectation for similar help in the future. Relations among Anglos are less face-to-face, or more like a secondary group. However, social support is important to them, but they expect help through love, rather than by a sense of duty.;The study indicates that while nursing home residents are generally unable to return equivalent benefits immediately, it is inappropriate to speak of aging as a second childhood. The concepts of delayed reciprocity and mutuality more accurately explain the relationships. These results are in agreement with previously reported findings, and the author believes that they constitute one further step toward knowledge of family ties and aging. |
