Mortality and Living Arrangement: Living Alone, with Family or in Institution

Anne Herm, Tallinn University and Université Catholique de Louvain

Mortality risks differ by type of living arrangements. Living in married couple has protective effect for survival. Living alone is associated with higher mortality. Still mortality is the highest for those living in institution. We use exhaustive Belgian data on 1.7 million persons aged 65 and above at census 2001 and their survival during year 2002. We apply logistic regression controlling for age, sex and education. We consider different private and non-private living arrangements. The results confirm that living with spouse is associated to the lowest mortality risk but survival for both is improved where husband is older than wife. Other types of living arrangement within a family household are less favorable while for those living alone differences appear by gender. Living alone is more favorable for women compared to men and for both gender never married person have relatively higher mortality risks.