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The Living Arrangements of Older Residents: The Role of Gender, Marital Status, Age, and Family Size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Ingrid Connidis  and
Judith Rempel
Ingrid Connidis
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario
Judith Rempel
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario
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Abstract

This paper reports findings from a study of 400 community-dwelling persons aged 65 and over. The stratified random sample resides in a city in Ontario, Canada, with a population of 260,000. A profile of their living arrangements is presented and then analysed with respect to respondent characteristics. Each of gender, marital status, and age are related to living arrangements at statistically significant levels, but control analyses indicate that gender is the most salient respondent characteristic. The authors argue that these observed gender differences in living arrangements are a reflection of sex role differences in today's older population. To the extent that these roles change, so too will the living arrangements of men and women. For both the present and future, differences by gender must be taken into account in housing and income policies.

Résumé

La présente communication fait état des observations recueillies au cours d'une étude portant sur 400 personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus vivant parmi la population. L'échantillon aléatoire stratifié réside dans une ville de 260 000 habitants en Ontario, au Canada. Les diverses solutions adoptées en réponse au probléme du logement sont présentées et analysées en fonction des traits caractéristiques des sujets. Le sexe, l'état matrimonial et l'âge sont liés de façon significative aux dispositions concernant le logement, mais l'analyse des sujets témoins indique que le sexe constitue le trait constitue le trait caractéristique le plus distinctif. Les auteurs soutiennent que la différence entre les dispositions adoptées par les membres des deux sexes est liée au rôle sexuel dans la population âgée actuelle. Ces dispositions se modifieront vraisemblablement au fur et à mesure de l'évolution des rôles sexuels. A l'heure actuelle ainsi que dans l'avenir, les différences observées devraient étre prises en compte dans l'établissement des mesures adoptées concernant le logement et les revenus.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , November 1983 , pp. 91 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1983

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