NATIVITY, DECLINING HEALTH, AND PREFERENCES IN LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AMONG ELDERLY MEXICAN-AMERICANS - IMPLICATIONS FOR LONG-TERM-CARE

This study employs data from the 1993-94 Hispanic Established Populati on for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE) to assess the impact of nativity on preferences in living arrangements for a sample of 3,046 Mexican American individuals over the age of 65. Our results reveal great differences between the native and foreign-born in their desire to live with their children. A larger fraction of the foreign-b orn than native-born currently live with their children and state that they would care to continue living with their children in the event t hat they could no longer care for themselves. The data also reveal tha t the foreign-born face more serious economic constraints than the nat ive-born and suggest that living with children may be motivated in par t by economic need. We end by speculating on the implications of these findings for community-based care for elderly Mexican Americans.