Determinants of the Living Arrangements of the Elderly

W99-6: The housing choices of the elderly are classified into five types: assisted communities, unassisted 60 plus communities, shared housing, supported housing and conventional housing. The selection of each of the first four is studied relative to the selection of conventional housing. Assisted communities are favored by older households (especially those with the oldest person over 85) and when there are no children living within ten miles, but, somewhat surprisingly, are unaffected by the presence of difficulties with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living. Shared housing is favored by households who have difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living or with activities of daily living and by households without any nonresident children. Supported housing is favored by households having difficulties with activities of daily living or with instrumental activities of daily living. Education, income, net worth and sex have little to do with the selection of one of the living arrangements. Some racial differentials are observed…