Children concerned about the welfare of their elderly parents may need to
consider a new study when it comes to deciding where they should live.
Rather than moving them to a nursing home or
a relative's spare bedroom, it may be better to leave them at their home and assist in
helping them find younger roommates, according to researchers Deborah Altus and R. Mark
Matthews, at the university's gerontology center.
"Fears about the welfare and safety of
older persons who live alone often lead family members and service providers to recommend
institutional placement, even when the elder has minimal direct care needs," said
Deborah Altus. "Fiscal and ethical concerns, though, are leading family members,
service providers an government officials to seek alternatives to institutional care that
are less expensive and that allow elders to 'age in place.'"
By sharing their homes with younger folks
who pay rent or help with chores, elders have a promising alternative to moving, the
researchers said. Some of those benefits include greater senses of well-being and security
and more social interaction.
And men reported a significantly higher
degree of health benefits and well-being than women because women had a harder time
sharing their kitchens and housework. But of 105 elderly surveyed, only 19 percent were
men, making it harder to draw definite conclusions about men's attitudes.
The survey regions were Wichita, Kan.,
Kansas City, Mo., and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. Forty-one respondents were aged 50 to 69
and 52 were 70 or older. The mean age was 72. |
