The large majority of older people in our time are women. In the course of
the twentieth century women's perspectives in life have changed more than at any time
previously. When old women are in need of care these days, there is scarcely anyone of
their generation there to look after them. The care situation and the willingness of close
relatives to care for older women are changing in the face of political and social
processes. The author described the latter in terms of their influence on the situaiton of
older women.