A Research Brief Prepared for the University of Texas at Austin Population Research Center Research Brief Series Mieke Beth Thomeer, Rachel Donnelly, Corinne Reczek, and Debra Umberson Introduction End-of-life planning enhances the quality of later-life caregiving, health, and death. Ideally, informal planning—conversation with loved ones about future care and end-of-life preferences—and formal planning—wills, […]
Topics of Expertise: Aging / Cohabitation, Committed Relationships & Marriage / Gender & Sexuality / LGBTQ Partnering & FamiliesAging
Aging
Research on Aging by CCF members addresses topics such as the demographic implications of the longevity boom, end-of-life issues, the economics of care, and the structure and dynamics of intergenerational families. For Older Americans’ Month, press releases address the increasing number of older Americans living alone.
Black Deaths Matter: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Racial Disparities in Relationship Loss and Health

A Research Brief Prepared for the University of Texas at Austin Population Research Center Research Brief Series Debra Umberson Introduction Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to experience the premature death of mothers, fathers, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends. These disparities begin in childhood and are repeated throughout life in […]
Topics of Expertise: African American Families / Aging / Health & Illness / Loss & Resiliency within Families / Trauma and DisasterFor a Limited Time Only: Josh Coleman is ‘On the Air’ with ‘Knowledge@Wharton’

This week, CCF Board Member Josh Coleman sat down with “Knowledge@Wharton” to discuss challenges with multi-generational housing. The interview is available online until March 30 on SiriusXM’s On Demand feature, channel 111. If you don’t have a SiriusXM subscription, they do offer a 30-day free trial subscription at: https://www.siriusxm.com/freetrial[siriusxm.com].
Topics of Expertise: AgingGray Divorce: A Growing Risk Regardless of Class or Education

In contrast to the seeming stabilization of divorce rates for the general population over the past two decades, the gray divorce rate has doubled: Married individuals aged 50 and older, including the college-educated, are twice as likely to experience a divorce today as they were in 1990. For married individuals aged 65 and older, the risk of divorce has more than doubled since 1990. Researchers explain why.
Topics of Expertise: Aging / Couples Conflict, Separation & DivorceAging Alone in America

In this report to the Council on Contemporary Families for Older Americans Month, New York University researchers Eric Klinenberg, Stacy Torres, and Elena Portocolone report on the unprecedented movement of the elderly toward solo living.
Topics of Expertise: AgingOlder Americans Month: Valuing the Contributions of America’s Elders

When Senior Citizens Month was established in May 1963 (the name was changed to “Older Americans Month” in 1980), there were only 17 million living Americans who had reached their 65th birthday. Today there are more than 38 million Americans 65 and older. This year the official theme for Older Americans Month is “Connecting to the Community.” Much has been written about the “burden” of supporting an aging population, but we hear far less about the many critical contributions older people make to their families and their communities. A good deal of this work is unpaid, but its value is no less significant.
Topics of Expertise: AgingOlder Americans Month: A Council on Contemporary Families Fact Sheet

Back in 1963, when 17 million Americans aged 65 and older represented just 9 percent of the population, President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month. Today there are almost 40 million Americans aged 65 and older, a number that is projected to increase to 88.5 million by 2050. By then they will make up 20 percent of the total population, and nearly 1 in 4 will be over 85. (By comparison, in 1900 only 4 percent of women and 3 percent of men lived to be 90.) We now know that they hate being called “senior citizens.” (President Carter changed the name to Older Americans Month in 1980.) Their numbers are swelling. What else do we know about older Americans?
Topics of Expertise: AgingThe Long-Range Impact of the Recession on Families

By Valerie Adrian Research Intern Council on Contemporary Families Stephanie Coontz, M.A. Co-Chair and Director of Research and Public Education Council on Contemporary Families The economy is now out of free fall, but the impact of recent economic losses on families will continue for many years to come. An overview of the economic, unemployment […]
Topics of Expertise: Aging / Economic Inequality / Transition - Adolescents to AdulthoodEXPERTS
Curators' Professor Emerita of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Missouri
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law, University of Florida
Research Scholar, Center for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, UC Berkeley; Senior Editor, Los Angeles Review of Books
Professor and Chair, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Medical School; Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology, Boston Medical Center; American Family Therapy Academy; Boston Center for Culturally Affirming Practices