At risk on the cusp of old age: Living arrangements and functional status among Black, White and Hispanic adults

Objectives. We examine the relationship between living arrangements and mul tiple measures of physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning in late mi dlife. Methods. Using cross-sectional data from the Health and Retirement Study, w e first assess the bivariate relationship between living arrangements and f unctioning; we then take into account demographic characteristics and measu res of household resources and demands. Results. We find evidence of differential functioning among individuals in various living arrangements. Married couples living alone or with children show the highest levels of functioning, whereas single adults living in com plex households show the lowest levels. Functional deficits for those in co mplex households are reduced but not eliminated when we take demographic ch aracteristics and household resources and demands into account. We find few differences by gender and race/ethnicity in the relationship between livin g arrangements and functioning. Discussion. We show a pattern of poorer functioning among those in arguably the most demanding and least supportive household environments. This point s to a vulnerable and risk-filled transition from middle to old age for the se persons. Because Blacks and Hispanics show lower levels of functioning t han Whites and are more likely to live in complex households, they may be p articularly disadvantaged.