Ethical Imperatives for Intervention with Elder Families

This article discusses the ethical dilemmas common to counseling practice with elder families and describes virtue ethics, rule ethics, and principle ethics in their application to the unique challenges of the life stage of diverse adults 60 years and older. The Five P Model of Ethical Decision Making of Gamino and Ritter is examined as a process for conceptualizing the ethics of care in complex situations like those of elder families. The authors challenge family counselors to expand their gerontological knowledge, including that of end-of-life care and bereavement, and to use a developmental lens when taking perspective on issues of aging clients and their families.