Determinants of the Living Arrangements of the Elderly

TitleDeterminants of the Living Arrangements of the Elderly
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsShafer, R
InstitutionCambridge, MA, Harvard University
Call Numberwp_1999/schafer_W99-6.pdf
KeywordsDemographics, Health Conditions and Status, Housing
Abstract

Abstract: Examined the determinants of the living arrangements of older adults. Data were obtained from the Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest-Old (AHEAD) survey on 8,222 adults aged 70 and older in 1993 and 6,047 housing units. It was found that assisted living communities were favored by older households (especially those with the oldest person aged 85 or older) and when no adult children were living within 10 miles. However, preferences for assisted living communities were unaffected by the presence of difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental ADLs (IADLs). Shared housing was favored by households with one or more members having difficulties with ADLs and IADLs and by households without any nonresident children. Supported housing was favored by households with one or more members having difficulties with ADLs and IADLs. Educational attainment, income, net worth, and sex had little to do with the selection of living arrangements. Blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to live in age-segregated housing and more likely to live in shared housing. An appendix provides information on the multinomial logit model used in the study.

Endnote Keywords

Elderly/Housing/Activities of Daily Living/IADLs

Endnote ID

16150

Citation Key5396