Living Arrangements

Most people 65 or over continue to live in the community, and even among people 85 or over, more than 78% of women and 88% of men continue to do so. By age 65, one third of women live alone; by age 75, more than half do so. Because women tend to live longer than men, fewer older men live alone. Some older people are able to remain in their homes because of help from relatives or outside services.

In the past, older Americans typically moved in with younger relatives if they became impaired. Nursing homes served few older people, mostly those who had no family to care for them. The situation has changed dramatically. Older people who are no longer able to live alone can now choose among several levels of care, including retirement facilities, assisted living communities, and nursing homes. Currently, about 1.8 million Americans reside in nursing homes. About 15% of nursing home residents are in a nursing home for a relatively short period of time while they recover from illness. The remainder will spend the rest of their lives in the nursing home.