Ageing families and living arrangements in France

Socio-demographic trends are transforming the family and living structures of older households. These include greater longevity and smaller family size, a rise in the number of one person households, and more recently, the effects of the European economic crisis. New forms of older households are emerging as a result of these trends which will in turn influence social care policies directed towards the elderly population.
The research explores, from the perspective of older individuals, how social, demographic and economic trends are currently transforming older families and their living arrangements. The data source is the survey Families and Housing survey, (“Familles et logements”) 2011 (INSEE-INED), based on a sub-sample of the 2011 census (n=368,000). The research classifies different older household types according to family structures. These are then examined in relation to the proximity of family members in different households, as well as other socio-demographic characteristics contained within the census such as labour market participation of children.
The dynamics of older household living arrangements in the French population suggest that new and emerging solidarities within families need to be taken into account when designing current and future social care policies.