Living Arrangement Transitions Among America's Older Adults

• Published in: The Gerontologist Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 434 - 444
• Main Author: Wilmoth, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Gerontological Society of America 01-08-1998; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - classification; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - psychology; Caregivers; Coresidence; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Gerontology; Household composition; Households; Housing for the Elderly; Humans; Institutionalization; Life Tables; Living alone; Living with spouse; Male; Middle Aged; Older people; Social Environment; Transitions
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/38.4.434

This analysis describes the relationship between age and transitions from four living arrangements: living alone, living with spouse only, living with a child, and living with a spouse and child. Data from the National Survey of Families and Households, collectedin 1987–88 and 1992–93, are used to calculate destination-specific hazard rates byage and then construct multiple-decrement life tables. Living alone or with a spouse are the most stable living arrangements during the early stages of later life, whereas for the oldest-old, living with a child is the most stable living arrangement. The young-oldtend to exit living arrangements through changes in coresidence, whereas transitions among the oldest-old are primarily due to institutionalization and death.