The Living Arrangements of Elderly People in Siliguri, West Bengal: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

In Gerontology, the dynamics of living arrangements of older adults have been explained with three theoretical perspectives, namely, modernization theory, power/bargaining model and mutual aid model. The modernization theory claims that as the societies become modernize, the intergenerational households gradually disappear from society. On the other hand, the power and bargaining model ascertains that the resourceful elderly extract more support from adult children including coresidence with children than resource less aged. Finally, mutual aid model predicts that the coresidence of older adults with adult children largely depends on the needs of the elderly people. In the present study, it is found that older adults with higher age, widowed elderly, and elderly assess their health as ‘unhealthy’ have greater probability to live with children. Aged women and aged with higher level of education are less likely to live with children, and income has no effect on living arrangements. However, the ownership of house aged people is likely to increase the possibility of living with children. Thus, the findings of present investigation considerably back the mutual aid model, but, also partially support the modernization theory and power and bargaining model.