Determinants of living arrangements among older people: a European comparison

Joëlle Gaymu, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Christiane Delbes, FNG
Sabine Springer, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Adrien Binet, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Aline Desesquelles, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)

This article examines the effects of demographic and socio-economic variables on living arrangements among the population aged 75 and more in some European countries. The first part is a descriptive analysis of the links between marital status and living arrangements: if some common trends appears for all countries (e.g. the increase with age of the proportion of people living in collective household, the specific position of the single or the decline of people living with other persons) a clear country profile appears and each country have followed a specific way in terms of institutionalisation. The second part treats the topic more in depth, by presenting multi variables analyses. Using national surveys and ECHP, the effects of sex, age, marital status, health, availability of children and education (or income) on the odds of living alone, with partner or with others and, for France, in a institution are examined.