This volume conceptualizes caregiving as an emerging sociological issue involving complex and fluctuating roles. The authors contend that caregiving must be considered in the context of the life span with needs that vary according to age, developmental levels, mental health needs and physical health demands of both caregivers and care recipients. As the nature and functions of caregiving evolve it has become a critical and salient issue in the lives of individuals in all demographic, socioeconomic and ethnic categories. This volume frames caregiving as a sociological issue and addresses a number of central concerns, such as:
- Caregiving is a life span experience associated with aging and the roles of spouses and adult children.
- Caregiving involves a complex of social system variables that influence the social support and services to caregivers and care recipients.
- The nature of the relationship among family caregivers, professional caregivers and the care recipient are embedded in their interaction and dynamics influenced by the internal and external variables that inhibit or facilitate the care situation.
- How can caregiving be integrated with a public health agenda?
- What disparities or inequalities exist in caregiving and what are the barriers that sustain them?
- What community-based interventions need to be developed to improve caregiving?

Howard M. Rebach and John G. Bruhn have collaborated on four texts (two for Plenum and two for Springer). In addition, they worked together on the journal Sociological Practice published by Plenum until a few years ago. The authors have a track record of providing quality, timely scholarship, which has been used in courses in sociology and related disciplines as evidenced by successful book sales.

Chapter 1. The Contemporary Challenges of Caregiving.- Chapter 2. Social Change and Caregiving.- Chapter 3. The Life Course Perspective.- Chapter 4. Caregiving Children with Special Healthcare Needs.- Chapter 5. Caregiving Adolescents and Young Adults with Disabilities.- Chapter 6. Caregiving at Life's Transitions: The Senior Years.- Chapter 7. Socioeconomic Status and Caregiving.- Chapter 8. Ethnic Variations in Caregiving.- Chapter 9. Outsourced and Specialized Caregiving.- Chapter 10. Caregiving at the End of Life.- Chapter 11. The Health of Caregivers.- Chapter 12. Legal and Ethical Issues in Caregiving.- Chapter 13. National Caregiving Policy Initiatives.- Chapter 14. Caregivers' Utilization of Social Networks and Social Media.- Index.