A study of preferred living arrangements of the aged on Social Allowance in Metropolitan Winnipeg

Abstract

This thesis was designed to ascertain the preferences of a specific group of older citizens with regard to their living arrangements. The study was based on data obtained from face to face interviews with a sample group of ninety-five senior citizens on Social Allowance residing in Metropolitan Winnipeg. In addition to their preference for a particular living arrangement certain personal characteristics, age, marital status, sex, health and ethnic origin, and certain external circumstances, available housing and previous way of life were identified as they were associated with the preferences. The findings revealed that a large proportion (81%) of the sample group desired to live in the normal mixed community. This was true for most of those who were above and below the mean age (which was found to be seventy-five for this sample group), who were married and single, male and female, and in good and poor health. These findings held true also irrespective of their ethnic background, their knowledge of available housing projects and their previous way of life. Similarly our findings showed that a considerable proportion (64%) of the sample group preferred to live independently. This led to the conclusion that the older people in our sample group prefer to retain their independence but if circumstances necessitate increased dependency they still prefer to remain in the normal, mixed community.