Anticipated living arrangement plans in later life: Interplay of health, childlessness, and income in South Korea

This study examines (1) older Koreans’ anticipated living arrangements under projected health status (i.e., when healthy versus ill), (2) the relevance of childlessness for these expectations, and (3) whether the association between childlessness and anticipated living arrangements differs by household income. Data come from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans, a nationally representative cross-sectional study of South Koreans aged 65+. Multinomial logistic regression models are used to estimate the effects of childlessness on anticipated living arrangements in two different health scenarios and the interaction between childlessness and income. Relative to parents, childless older adults are more likely to anticipate moving to senior housing, than remaining in their current home, when they envision being healthy. However, this difference is smaller among those with higher household income. When envisioning health detriments, childless older adults are less likely to expect moving in with or closer to relatives and more likely to anticipate moving to private senior housing than staying in their current home. However, these associations between childlessness and anticipated living arrangements vary by household income level, suggesting that older adults adjust their housing expectations considering their family, health, and financial resources. While childlessness may constrain the feasibility of staying at home, childless older Koreans with sufficient financial means may anticipate remaining in their own homes by arranging in-home support. These findings provide useful insights for practitioners and policymakers in crafting age-friendly housing environments that address the distinct needs of older Koreans with differing levels of health, social, and fiscal resources.