160 Living Arrangements

Do those in late adulthood primarily live alone?: No. In 2014, of those sixty-five years of age and older, approximately 72 percent of men and 46 percent of women lived with their spouse (Vespa and Schondelmyer, 2015). Between 1900 and 1990 the number of older adults living alone increased, most likely due to improvements in health and longevity during this time (see Figure 9.35). Since 1990 the number of older adults living alone has declined because older women are more likely to be living with their spouse or children (Stepler, 2016c).

The number of individuals living alone in Canada has more than doubled over the last thirty-five years. This is an increase from 1.7 million in 1981 to 4 million in 2016. This growth is fastest among adults aged thirty-five to sixty-four. The share of older women ages sixty-five and over living alone in Canada has decreased for all but the oldest. However, the share of older men living alone has increased.

Women continue to make up the majority of older adults living alone in the US, although that number has dropped from those living alone in 1990 (Stepler, 2016a). Older women are more likely to be unmarried and living with children, with other relatives, or with non-relatives. Older men are more likely to be living alone than they were in 1990, although older men are more likely to reside with their spouse. The rise in divorce among those in late adulthood, along with the drop in the rate of remarriage, has resulted in slightly more older men living alone today than in the past (Stepler, 2016c).

Older adults who live alone report feeling more financially strapped than do those living with others (Stepler, 2016d). According to a Pew Research Center survey (2011), only 33 percent of those living alone reported they were living comfortably, while nearly 49 percent of those living with others said they were living comfortably. Similarly, 12 percent of those living alone, but only 5 percent of those living with others, reported that they lacked money for basic needs (Stepler, 2016d).

Do those in late adulthood primarily live with family members?: No. There are significantly fewer older adults living in multigenerational housing, that is three generations living together, than in previous generations (Erber and Szuchman, 2015). According to the Pew Research Center (2011), nearly 17 percent of the population lived in a house with at least two adult generations based on the 2010 census results. However, ethnic differences are noted in the percentage of multigenerational households with Hispanic (22 percent), Black (23 percent), and Asian (25 percent) families living together in greater numbers than white families (13 percent). Consequently, with the exception of some cultural groups, the majority of older adults wish to live independently for as long as they are able.

Do those in late adulthood move after retirement?: No. According to Erber and Szuchman (2015), the majority of those in late adulthood remain in the same location, and often in the same house, they lived in before retiring. Although some younger late adults (sixty-five to seventy-four years) may relocate to warmer climates, once they are older (seventy-five to eighty-four years) they often return to their home states to be closer to adult children (Stoller and Longino, 2001). Despite the previous trends, however, the recent housing crisis has kept those in late adulthood in their current suburban locations because they are unable to sell their homes (Erber and Szuchman, 2015).

Do those in late adulthood primarily live in institutions?: No. Only a small portion (3.2 percent) of adults older than sixty-five lived in an institution in 2015 (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). However, as individuals increase in age, the percentage of those living in institutions, such as a nursing home, also increases. Specifically, 1 percent of those sixty-five to seventy-four, 3 percent of those seventy-five to eighty-four, and 10 percent of those eighty-five and older lived in an institution in 2015. Due to the increasing number of Baby Boomers reaching late adulthood, the number of people who will depend on long-term care is expected to rise from 12 million in 2010 to 27 million in 2050 (United States Senate Commission on Long-Term Care, 2013). To meet this higher demand for services, a focus on the least restrictive care alternatives has resulted in a shift toward home and community-based care instead of placement in a nursing home (Gatz et al., 2016).