Receiving Support and Care in Older Age: Comparing LAT Relationships With First Marriages, Remarriages, and Cohabitation

Abstract

Living apart together (LAT) combines intimacy with autonomy and flexibility but, possibly, with lower commitment to exchanging support and care compared with first marriages, remarriages, and cohabitation of older adults. Data from 50- to 79-year-old respondents in the Family and Fertility Survey 2013 (Statistics Netherlands; N = 4,108) showed that older LAT partners are most often involved in exchanging emotional support. No differences were found in the receipt of daily care. Multivariate analyses showed that receiving support and care from the partner was associated with more health problems, higher quality of the partner relationship, and a broader support network. When in poor health, LAT partners were less likely to receive daily care, but not emotional support, from their partner compared with the other types. Partner relationships in later life are well equipped to provide emotional support, but partner care is facilitated largely by help from others.

Trends in long-term care use among Dutch older men and women between 1995 and 2016: is the gender gap changing?

“…The share of those having a partner outside the household increased slightly during the study years. When in poor health, those with a partner living apart are less likely to receive daily care from their partner than co-habiting partners (Broese van Groenou et al ., 2019). This implies that partners living apart may not be as available for late-life care as partners in co-habiting relationships.…”