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Living Arrangement Choices among the Elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Andrew V. Wister
Andrew V. Wister
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo
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Abstract

This research explores factors which differentiate non-institutionalized elderly persons living alone, living only with a spouse, and living with other persons (with or without a spouse present). Special attention is devoted to the measurement and investigation of several social norms and personal preferences. These factors are organized in terms of a decision-making framework developed from micro-economic and demographic theory. Choice of a living arrangement is seen as the product of underlying norms and preferences, a set of socio-demographic factors, and constraints on choice. This research relies on data from 454 personal interviews drawn from a stratified random sample of persons 65 and over living in private households in London, Ontario, Canada.

Data analysis indicates that the decision of whom to live with is complex and is influenced by a large group of variables. However, the most important factors are the social norms and personal preferences of the respondents. Of these, a preference for independence and privacy surfaces as the strongest predictor of living arrangements. Being able to do what one wants without outside interference in conjunction with a private living style tends to be viewed by older persons as very important household ‘goods’. The expected separateness of the elderly, age segregation or differentiation, and kinship obligations and ties were found to be influential social norms affecting living arrangement decisions. The analysis also suggests that the constraining effects of domestic competence, physical strength and mobility, and availability of kin for co-residence are also important. In addition, several socio-demographic variables including age, sex and ethnicity arise as significant predictors of living arrangements.

RÉSUMÉ

Dans la présente étude, nous distinguons trois groupes de personnes âgées demeurant hors de l'institution: celles qui vivent seules, celles qui habitent avec leur conjoint, et celles qui cohabitent avec d'autres personnes (avec ou sans leur conjoint). Nous avons apporté une attention toute particulière à la mesure ainsi qu' à l'examen de diverses normes sociales et préférences personnelles. L'organisation de ces facteurs s'insère dans un schéma décisionnel découlant d'une théorie micro-économique et démographique. Le choix du cadre de vie apparît en effet déterminé par des normes et préférences sous-jacentes, un ensemble de facteurs sociodémographiques, ainsi qu'un certain nombre de contraintes. Notre recherche s'appuie sur les données recueillies au cours de 454 entrevues auprès d'un échantillon aléatoire formé de personnes âgées de 65 ans, habitant en maison privée, à London (Ontario) au Canada.

L'analyse des données indique que le choix d'un compagnon ou d'une compagne est complexe, et qu'il est affecté par un grand nombre de variables, mais que les deux facteurs les plus importants demeurent les normes sociales et les préférences personnelles. Parmi ces demières, l'amour de l'indépendance et l'amour de la discrétion s'avérent les plus propres à prédire le choix du style de vie. Les personnes âgées ont en effet tendance à attacher une grande importance au fait de pouvoir agir à leur guise sans ingérence de la part des étrangers de même qu'au maintien d'un style de vie très privé. Par ailleurs, le détachement attendu des personnes âgées, la ségrégation et la différenciation par classe d'âges, ainsi que les obligations et les liens familiaux constituent des facteurs liés aux normes sociales qui exercent une influence certaine sur les décisions concernant le choix d'un lieu d'habitation. L'analyse permet également de croire que les restrictions imposées par la diminution de l'aptitude aux travaux domestiques, des forces physiques et de la motilité d'un part, et d'autre part la disponibilité d'un parent ou d'ue parente apte à cohabiter constituent des facteurs significatifs. Enfin, plusieurs autres variables sociodémographiques telles que l'âge, le sexe et l'origine ethnique s'avèrent susceptibles de prédire le choix du cadre de vie.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1985 , pp. 127 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1985

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