RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN THE HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION OF ELDERS BY AGE, GENDER, AND AREA OF RESIDENCE

Using census data and an innovative technique for describing the compo sition of households from the perspective of elders, this research pro vides a more detailed description of race differences in living arrang ements of older persons than has previously existed. In addition, cros s tabulations of race with other factors known to influence household composition (gender, age, and area of residence) are examined. While w hite women are more likely than black women to live alone, the reverse is true among men. Whites are more likely than blacks to live in marr ied-couple-only households, and blacks are more likely than whites to live in multigenerational households, although these differences decre ase with advancing age. Blacks are also more likely than whites to liv e with collateral kin or nonkin only, although these categories compri se small proportions of the population. Implications of these differen ces for caregiving and quality of life among older persons are discuss ed.