Family support for elderly facing social and demographic changes in Reunion Island

Reunion is a French Overseas Department. It is located in the South Western Indian Ocean near Madagascar and Mauritius. From a total fertility rate of about 7 children per woman in 1960 to around 2.5 since 1990, demographic transition in Reunion is one of the fastest in the world. Consequently, it will be the same for the aging population. This would be a concern in a context of high population growth and local economy with a high rate of unemployment. People remain very attached to family care for elderly parents but at the same time they increasingly prefer not share housing with them. Based on demographic projections of population and households and examination of care public policies, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the levers of policy makers in the field of family support for the elderly in Reunion. Emphasis will be laid on the necessary coordination between cohabitation and the wish for family care to support older people.