Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

With an ageing population, understanding the determinants of health in later life is key to improving quality of life for the individual and minimising costs associated with poorer health on a societal level. The wider determinants of health are well-acknowledged, and the dynamics of social capital has been of interest of late. The number of people living alone in the United Kingdom (UK) in later life is continuing to increase and this has implications for the social and practical support immediately on hand for the individual as they age. Women are more likely to live alone in later life and are subject to inequalities across the life course which affect their experience of ageing and later life. The health and well-being of older women in the UK who live alone are of interest to care providers, health organisations and policymakers alike. This poster presents findings from analysis of the Understanding Society dataset (UK Household Panel Survey). The analysis examines the relationship between household composition and health and well-being outcomes, providing a comparison between older women living alone and their co-habiting counterparts.