title: Mortality at older ages and moves in residential and sheltered housing: evidence from the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study examines the relationship between transitions to residential and sheltered housing and mortality. Past research has focused on housing moves over extended time periods and subsequent mortality. In this paper, annual housing transitions allow the identification of the patterning of housing moves, the duration of stay in each sector and the assessment of the relationship of preceding moves to a heightened risk of dying.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study uses longitudinal data constructed from pooled observations from the British Household Panel Survey (waves 1993-2008). Records were pooled for all cases where the survey member is 65 years or over and living in private housing at baseline and observed at three consecutive time points, including baseline (N=23 727). Binary logistic regression (death as outcome three waves after baseline) explored the relative strength of different housing transitions, controlling for sociodemographic predictors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Transition to residential housing within the previous 12 months was associated with the highest mortality risk. (2) Results support existing findings showing an interaction between marital status and mortality, whereby unmarried persons were more likely to die. (3) Higher male mortality was observed across all housing transitions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An older person's move to residential housing is associated with a higher risk of mortality within 12 months of the move. Survivors living in residential housing for more than a year, show a similar probability of dying to those living in sheltered housing. Results highlight that it is the type of accommodation that affects an older person's mortality risk, and the length of time they spend there.
authors.affiliation: EPSRC Care Life Cycle, Social Sciences, University of Southampton, , Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robards
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evandrou
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falkingham
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlachantoni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: AGEING; HOUSING; MARITAL STATUS; MORTALITY