Living arrangements, coresidence preference, and mortality risk among older Taiwanese

Abstract

Purpose Although coresidence with children when one becomes old is an ideal in Chinese society, the drastic socio-economic development in Taiwan has brought some fundamental changes to living arrangements of the elderly population. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between family living arrangements and elderly health in Taiwan, given the secular trend of more elderly persons choosing to live with their spouse or to live independently. Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized panel data from the “1989 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan” with follow-ups up to 2007 to examine how living arrangements of the elderly affect the risk of mortality using discrete-time hazard models. The authors stratified the analyses by the elderly’s preference to coreside with children, and examined whether the effects of living arrangement varied by age, controlling for sociodemographics, health status, health behaviors, and social relationships observed at the baseline. Findings The authors found that both the associations of living arrangements and coresidence preference with that mortality risk were largely weakened when controlling for other variables. Only among respondents expressing preference for coresidence were living arrangements associated with mortality risks, and these effects increased with age. For those who did not intend to live with children, the authors found no evidence suggesting living arrangements were associated with mortality risks. The dynamics of living arrangements among the elderly and elderly care policies in Taiwan are discussed for further research. Originality/value To the authors knowledge, no previous research has examined living arrangements and mortality risks with respect to coresidence preference.

A Study of the Factors Influencing the Residential Preferences of the Elderly in China

“…The residential preference in China used to be multi-generation living under one roof [22][23][24] or "by turns" [4]. Now with the development of society, there are obvious differences in residential preferences between different regions.…”

“…Unlike in developed countries, where almost all elderly people have access to publicly provided social security, the family is the main source of support for elderly Chinese adults [21][22][23]. It is important to have a deep understanding of elderly people's housing preferences.…”

“…First, we found that age has a significant effect on the residential preference of the elderly with a spouse, and the older they are, the more likely they are to choose the "living nearby" and "living independently" options. In the traditional Chinese family framework, three or four generations living together is a sign of the harmony and happiness of the family [22][23][24], and parents are more willing to live with their children. From 1930 to 2010, the proportion of third-generation households and above decreased significantly, while the proportion of first-and second-generation households increased [39].…”

Analysis of The Demand for Older Adult Care Services and Related Influencing Factors Among Older Adults Living Alone in China

“…Older adults who were younger were more likely to live alone compared with the oldest old. Health plays an important role in the ability of living alone, those younger individuals who choose to live alone tend to have better physical functioning and health than the oldest old [35], allowing them to lead an independent life. As for sex differences, women were more likely to choose "living alone and children living nearby" than men when they considering the way of living alone.…”

Analysis of the Demand for Older Adult Care Services and Related Influencing Factors among Older Adults Living Alone in China

“…Older adults who were younger were more likely to live alone compared with the oldest old. Health plays an important role in the ability of living alone, those younger individuals who choose to live alone tend to have better physical functioning and health than the oldest old [34], allowing them to lead an independent life. As for sex differences, women were more likely to choose "living alone and children living nearby" than men when they considering the way of living alone.…”