Moving for proximity to family, care needs and the locations of family members: An analysis of matched survey and register data

Abstract

Proximity to family forms a quite common motivation for moving. Older adults' care needs may underlie this motivation, but little is known about the extent to which this is the case. We investigate how moving motivated by proximity to family is associated with (1) the residential locations of parents, siblings and children and (2) indicators of older adults' care needs. We employ data from five Netherlands' Housing Surveys (2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018) matched with register data. Uniquely, we use indicators of parents' formal care use in analyses for respondents aged 30–64, and own care use for respondents aged 65 and older. We find that, as hypothesised, those whose parents or children live far away are more likely to move for proximity reasons than others. However, we do not find such an association for siblings living far away. Contrary to expectations, respondents are more likely to report moving for proximity reasons if they have geographically distant parents who do not use care than if they have distant parents who do. We find no convincing evidence that older parents' own care needs induce moves motivated by proximity to family. Rather, own care needs induce moves that are motivated by health or a need for care but are mostly not directed towards family.