PEOPLE LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILIT IES IN GERMANY - SOCIOSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE CHOICE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY

In this paper some important aspects of institutionalization in old ag e are studied. Compared with old people living in private households, people living in residential care facilities show some sociostructural particularities which are hints at possible factors related to instit utionalization. The following analyses of the factors related to insti tutionalization in old age result in a conformity of objective and sub jective reasons: poor health, lack of social network and bad housing c onditions in combination with needs for care are essential factors rel ated to institutionalization. In addition, the question of denominatio nal choice of the residential care facility and the question about mig ration in old age is examined mon closely. With regard to the religiou s community it is amazing that, in spite of secularization, there are major interdenominational differences. A further analysis of regional mobility suggests some sociostructural differences: women and widowed persons for example do not move over far distances (from the private h ousehold to the residential care facility), compared to men and marrie d persons.