Living arrangements and family support of older people

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.

Bangladesh is passing through the later stages of demographic transition with its inevitable challenges of a huge numbers of elderly people. Using a WHO study on AGEing and adult health the study attempts to analyze the elderly situation. Data were collected from 4,000 elderly people on self-rated health, health state. The study is examining whether the living arrangements and family structure of the elderly have any effect on self-rated health, health state, of the elderly people.
Multivariate analyses show a consistent inverse relationship between self rated health and health status and age. Self rated health and health status decreases with increasing age. Elderly Females have significantly worse health (self rated) than male and higher educated and rich enjoy better health (self rated). In terms of household structure data show that elderly living in nuclear family enjoys better health but elderly living in stem and stem joint household. Finally, while age worsens health, higher education and wealth provide better health to the elderly. Living in nuclear family provides better health than living in either eroded or joint and extended family. In term of household structure and health status result is different for different health state.

Home to a rapidly growing population of elderly, India has one of the fastest growing ageing populations in the world. This paper analyses the socio-economic and demographic correlates of the living arrangement choices of older persons in the state of Kerala. The data for the present paper was taken from “Kerala Migration Survey, 2008” conducted by government of Kerala and Centre for Development Studies. The sample includes 2,069 elderly. Both bivariate and multivariate techniques were used for the analysis. Majorities (90 percent) of the elderly were in co-residence or lived with their spouses and children. Less than 2 percent are living alone and only 8 percent are staying with relatives. The variables, like age, sex, marital status, number of surviving children, education, occupation, economic dependency play an important role in determining the living arrangements of the elderly. In view of the changing socio-economic and demographic scenario, increasing education and income and a simultaneous decline in fertility, there is a likelihood of a higher proportion of elderly living alone in the future. Therefore, the policies and programmes for the elderly have to be appropriately designed to address the needs of those who live a

This paper explores family and non-family factors contributing to subjective well- being (SWB) among population aged 60 and over in Thailand. Data come from the Survey of Older Population in 2011(n =20,517). Based on regression analyses, non-family factors are more important than family factors in explaining the variations in older adults’ SWB. Regarding the non-family domain, those who reported highest self-rated health and highest level of satisfaction with financial status had the highest level of SWB. Regarding family factors, family structure is not as important as trust that family members will take good care of them when ill. In addition, the findings reveal that, as opposed to living with at least one child, older adults living with spouses (with no children) reported highest SWB while those living in skip generation households reported the lowest SWB, controlling for family support, socioeconomic, health, and demographic factors.

Background: Health and social conditions of spouseless people are less studied than other people.

Objective: We assessed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of spouseless people aged 50+ years and self-reported morbidity and health service use in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: We identified 1,456 spouseless people from Abhoynagar and 2,016 from Mirsarai sub-districts in 2009 where a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) has been operating since 1984 and 1995 respectively. Information on their self-reported morbidity and health care utilization in the past two weeks was extracted from HDSS database. Social prejudices with spouseless people were obtained through focus group discussions.

Results: Majority (90%) of the spouseless people were above 65 years and females in both areas. Majority were staying in extended nuclear families and labour force. Coverage of the social safety net program was <20%. Self-reported non-communicable diseases were widely prevalent and were the main reasons for medical consultations. Widow women faced societal prejudice.

Conclusions: Attention to increase social safety net program and remove social prejudice is needed.

Living arrangement of older persons has become a central issue of population ageing due to its normative and practical importance for the well being of older persons. This study, utilizing ' Survey of Living Profile and Welfare Service Needs of Older Persons in Korea in 2008 and 2012, attempts to provide an empirical analysis on persistence and change of living arrangements over the life course of older persons. The study begins with cross sectional approach on living arrangement patterns in 2008 and 2012. Multinominal analysis reveals that marital status, education level, and attitudes on filial responsibilities are the main determinants of living arrangements. And analyzes the change of living arrangements over the life course following those aged 60 and over in the next 3 years are conducted. Descriptive analysis reveals that while many elder parents sustain their current living arrngements for the given period, some older persons expeirence changes. Logit regression analysis reveals that changes of living arrangements, particularly from coresidence with married children to separate resident, are closely related to not only the loss of spouse and biological ageing but also attitude on filial responsibilities and the main motive of coresidence. Based empirical results, policy implications are suggested.

The South African State Old Age Pension (SOAP) forms the backbone of social assistance in South Africa. The impact of this pension on its recipients has consequently come under much scrutiny. Previous research on the pension has been primarily concerned with estimating the behavioral effects of the pension on the members of pension households. However, because these studies have used cross-sectional data, the findings have been predicated upon the assumption that the composition of pension households does not change on pension receipt. This paper questions the plausibility of this assumption by examining the effect of the SOAP on the living arrangements of recipients. The results support the argument that the living arrangements of pensioners will be affected by pension receipt, and that the results from past studies of the pension may consequently have been misinterpreted. The study employs two different methods to achieve its aim, namely a regression discontinuity approach using 2001 census data and a cohort approach using a series of cross-sectional data from 1994-2010.

Elderly women suffer from multiple disadvantages resulting from biases to gender and widowhood. This study will pertain to understand the association between living arrangements and health well being among elderly women in India. The present study utilised data from Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS 2005). Both Bivariate and multivariate analysis have been applied in this study. Eighty three percent of elderly women are living in joint families and three percent are living alone in India. The number of women living in a joint family is higher in urban (84%) than rural (82%) areas. Women’s age, marital status and economic status are found as significant determinants of their living arrangements as well as their health well being. High BP has the highest burden on health in India. Women who are living alone are likely to suffer with any short term and long term morbidity, than other categories of living arrangements. The elderly population, particularly women, are more likely to suffer with multiple health and psychological problems. There is an urgent need to pay greater attention to elderly women and to support holistic policies and programs for ensuring their health well being and social security.

This study made a critical attempt of investigating the pattern of living arrangement and perception about old age support in Indian older population by using India Human Development Survey, 2004-05 data. This is the first study of this kind, which, in addition, to living arrangement pattern of the older population, provides some insight about the expectations of current young generation about the old age assistance. Around 13 percent of elderly lived with their spouse only; only 2 percent lived single, and the rest of 85 percent elderly in India living in coresidence with children. A majority of women respondents are expecting their sons to live with them, to take care and provide financial and emotional support in their old age. This indicates that the family will continue to be a significant social institution for the care and support for the older population in India.

Industrialization, urbanization and globalization have not only eroded the traditional status and decision making power of the elderly but they have also brought a number of problems before
the elderly. Today, they are facing a number of problems such as abuse, maltreatment, mental and physical torture and heedless ignominy from the family and society. These problems have affected the way of life and sense of well being of the elderly to a large extent from society as well as family. Consequently, fear of crime is being recognized as an emerging social problem among the elderly. The paper explores the impact of the social determinants in the rising of fear of crime among the elderly. The paper also identifies the victim offender relationship. Secondary data have been collected from news papers (Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Edition). These news items have been collected from April 2012 to August 2012. The news items relating to crimes against the elderly have been systematically collected and their content have been analyzed. Findings have shown that a number of elderly have murdered and victimized due to property.