Conference Recommendations

Abstract

The five discussion groups each dealt with the general theme of “Support Networks in a Caring Community: Research and Policy, Fact and Fiction”, but the groups viewed the theme in different contexts, specific to different categories of people or to different situations common to a wide range of people. A surprisingly large number of common themes and general conclusions emerged from the group discussions. Common to all the groups were two basic points: a) the analysis of the nature, range and intensity of support networks was a complex matter requiring further analysis and review; b) to propose reliance on informal supportive networks as an inexpensive or even desirable alternative to the provision of professional health and social services was a gross over-simplification; the model of the complementarity of professional services with supportive networks based on family, neighbourhood or occupational grouping was favoured as more realistic than a model of alternative provision.