The Demography of Living Arrangements among the Oldest Old: Evidence from the Hispanic EPESE

• In Event: 067 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 02. Health, Living Arrangements, and Care for Older Latinos and Immigrants

Abstract

Abstract:
Objectives: This paper, examines the characteristics of late-life living arrangements in Mexican-origin U.S. population.
Methods: We analyze data from the 7th Wave of Hispanic EPESE, which includes an additional caregiver survey in 2010. The average age in this sample is 86 years old, allowing us to examine living arrangements of the oldest old. Using multinomial logistic regression, we examine the association of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and elderly parent health with a living arrangement typology consisting of elderly parents living alone, living with others as head of household, and living with others as a non-head of household.
Results: Finances of both the elderly and caregivers play an important role in differentiating among elderly who live alone and those living as non-head of households. Physical and cognitive disability of elderly parents differentiate among living arrangements in expected ways, with the most mental and physically capable more likely to live alone or as heads of households than as non-heads of household.
Discussion: Living arrangements maximize mutual benefit for both elderly parents and adult child caregivers. Future research should address how the Mexican-American family will continue to provide care for their elderly parents.

Authors

• Phillip Cantu, University of Texas

• Jacqueline L. Angel, University of Texas at Austin