Populations everywhere are growing older, and the number of persons aged 60 years or over is expected nearly to triple by 2050. Not only are more people surviving to reach old age, but those who attain old age are living longer than ever before. As a consequence, families comprising three or even four generations have become common, considerably expanding the alternatives for living arrangements of older persons. At the same time, long-term shifts in economies and societies are transforming many aspects of day-to-day family life, including traditions favouring lifelong co-residence of parents and children as a basic means of ensuring support for young and old.
The present publication provides the first global survey and analysis of the patterns and trends in the living arrangements of older persons. Comparable data are presented for more than 130 countries. The publication analyses the demographic, social and economic correlates of living arrangements of people aged 60 years or over as well, focusing on co-residence with family members, solitary living and the institutionalization of older persons.
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Summary
- Introduction
- Chapter I: Background
- Chapter II: Living Arrangements: Patterns and Trends
- Chapter III: Economic and Social Correlates of Living Arrangements
- Chapter IV: Informal Support Transfers Between Generations
- Chapter V: Conclusion
- References
- Annex I: Imputation of Marital Status of Household Members in DHS Surveys
- Annex II: Composition of the Index of Material Well-Being
- Annex III: Methodological Note on the Possible Underestimation of Older Individuals Living with Children
- Annex IV: Annex Tables
Supplementary Tables
Two files in Excel format showing age-specific data for persons aged 50 or over, by sex: