Living Arrangements and Household Compositions of Elderly Couples and Singles

Abstract

Based on the 1989 and 1990 interview waves of the Panel Studies of Income Dynamics, this study compares living arrangements and household compositions of Hispanics and blacks aged 60 or older. As compared to black elderly couples, Hispanic elderly couples were more likely to head a household containing relatives. But black elderly couples were more likely than Hispanic elderly couples to head households containing grandchildren only. As compared to black elderly singles, Hispanic elderly singles were more likely to live as dependents in someone else's household. The effects of affordability, as measured by income, and health status on living arrangements varied among groups. For Hispanic elderly, immigrant status was a significant determinant of living arrangement for both couples and singles, but national origin was significant only for singles.

Key Words:

• Living arrangements
• affordability
• health status
• number of children