Transitions in Living Arrangements Among Elders in Japan: Does Health Make a Difference?

Abstract

Poor health does trigger changes in living arrangement. Both physical (i.e., chronic conditions and functional status) and mental (i.e., depressed affect) health conditions play a role in such transitions. Because health conditions are correlated with competing risks of mortality, attrition, and proxy interview, health effects on changes in living arrangement are likely underestimated.

Differences in suicide risk according to living arrangements in Japanese men and women – The Japan Public Health Center-based (JPHC) prospective study

“…In Japanese culture, frail or widowed older people are commonly cared for by relatives (Kono, 1991). A national based data showed that 64% of elderly Japanese coresided with their children, and that functional impairment increased the likelihood of living with children (Brown et al, 2002). Japanese tradition expects women to take care for their elderly or disabled parents until their death, and 85% of those who care for elderly parents or relatives are women (Horlacher, 2002).…”

Intergenerational cohabitation in modern Indonesia: filial support and dependence

“…Elderly parents may prefer cohabitation with children to obtain physical, mental and economic support. Studies on the elderly in Japan and the US have found that increased parental needs for care are positively correlated with the probability of parent-child cohabitation (Johar et al, 2010;Brown et al, 2002;Dostie and Le´ger, 2005;Silverstein, 1995). The Javanese, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, have been found to have preferences for family members to live close together (Beard and Kunharibowo, 2001).…”

Short-term Trends in Functional Limitation and Disability Among Older Asians: A Comparison of Five Asian Settings

“…Some research on individual level transitions has examined populations in China, Japan and Taiwan (Brown et al, 2002;Gu & Zeng, 2004;Liang, Liu, & Gu, 2001;Tang, Jiang, & Futatsuka, 2002;Zimmer, Liu, Hermalin, & Chuang, 1998); however, examinations of population-wide functional status trends for Asia are in their relative infancy. Schoeni et al (2006) recently demonstrated declines in prevalence rates for several functional limitation and disability indicators for Japan similar to what has been seen in the United States, while and Zimmer, Martin, and Chang (2002) show less favorable trends occurring for Taiwan.…”