Mortality and preceding housing transitions at older ages: evidence from the United Kingdom

Existing research has examined the mortality risk for older people living in different types of long-term care accommodation; however the impact of the duration of older people’s stay in different living arrangements and housing types on their mortality risk is relatively under-researched. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey this research estimates transitions to death by different demographic characteristics, socio-economic position, health status, living arrangements and transitions in housing type. In doing so, the analysis presents the relative risk of mortality for different groups depending on their socio-demographic characteristics in the years immediately before death. The paper shows that an individual’s transition to residential housing within 12 months of the final wave before dying is the strongest predictor of subsequent mortality. In contrast to this group, older people who have lived in residential care for at least 12 months show lower risk of mortality. The results contribute to our understanding of mortality risk during different housing transitions, and have policy implications for the design of long-term care accommodation in the UK.