Epidemiological Insights Into Relocation in Older Age From the Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II): A...

As the global population ages as a whole, interest in the "place" dimension of aging is growing. Previous studies on relocation in older age were often qualitative in nature and based on small samples. Large-scale epidemiological studies that specifically account for nonmovers are scarce but may contribute to a better understanding of older people's reasoning about relocation.

Data from the Second Longitudinal Study of Aging-Wave II, a U.S. population-based survey from 1997 to 1998, was analyzed to explore the most common reasons for moving in adults aged ≥ 70 years. The data were analyzed with a cross-sectional analytical approach. The predicted probability of moving depending on age and sociodemographic factors was estimated based on survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression. Moving/relocation was self-reported and covered a preceding 2-year period; reasons for moving implied a permanent relocation.

The weighted percentage of participants reporting relocation within the last 2 years was 10.83% (9.81-11.95). The predicted probability of moving increased with higher age and doubled from 10% to 20% when comparing those aged 70 years and 90 years. Participants reporting fair/poor overall health were significantly more likely to have moved than those participants with excellent health (contrast: +7% (95% CI: 4.1%-9%), p < 0.001). A similar contrast was found when comparing married participants with widowed/divorced participants (+6.8% (95% CI: 3%-10%), p = 0.001). Deteriorating health and the desire to go to a smaller place were the most frequently reported reasons for moving with 35.67% (31.98-39.53) and 18.71% (15.29-22.70), respectively. More than 10% of participants who relocated indicated a desire to live closer to their child/children.

Results from this epidemiological analysis corroborate motivations for relocation identified in previous interview-based qualitative studies. The estimated marginal predicted probabilities provide new insights into the complex dynamics of relocation in older age.