Housing Adjustment in Late Life

Abstract

The presentation surveys the living arrangement of people aged 55 and over and the dynamics of these. It concludes the following:
• Mobility in later life is relatively rare, particularly from mid-60s to mid-80s
• Residential moves respond to events like retirement, spouse’s leaving employment and loss of spouse
• Expectations of better financial situation in year ahead associated with more moves
• When a move is made, there is a tendency toward ‘downsizing’ but not exclusively
• Moves are short-distance, particularly tenants
• Leaving employment (or spouse) generates longer distance moves