Intergenerational neighborhood networks: a basis for aiding the frail elderly.

Current federal policy is directed toward encouraging reliance on the voluntary sector for the provision of personal care services to the frail elderly. "Of particular interest is the development of volunteer and peer group support. . . which will reduce dependence on social services" {Federal Register, 1982, p. 55114). One impetus behind this policy is the fear that the expansion of formal community-based long-term care services will lead to uncontrollable costs (Sager, 1983). The literature has recently begun to report on programs which mobilize the voluntary sector by developing and/or strengthening natural support systems to promote mutual help among older persons. For example, Ehrlich (1979) describes a Mutual Help Model, which organized neighborhood-based