Among the old-old, more than half of all women are living alone, while most men live with their spouses.

Among the old-old, more than half of all women are living alone, while most men live with their spouses.

• A. Cannot be determined
• B. Not applicable
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (C)

Understanding how living arrangements change in late life helps explain this statement. Women tend to live longer than men, so among the old-old there are many more widowed women. When a spouse dies, the woman often ends up living alone, or with other relatives, rather than with a new spouse. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to still be living with their wives in this age group, or to remain partnered overall. This combination of longer female life expectancy and the persistence of partnered living for men produces the pattern described: a large share of old-old women live alone while most old-old men live with their spouses. Keep in mind that exact numbers vary by culture and cohort, but the described pattern is a common demographic reality in late life.

Understanding how living arrangements change in late life helps explain this statement. Women tend to live longer than men, so among the old-old there are many more widowed women. When a spouse dies, the woman often ends up living alone, or with other relatives, rather than with a new spouse. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to still be living with their wives in this age group, or to remain partnered overall. This combination of longer female life expectancy and the persistence of partnered living for men produces the pattern described: a large share of old-old women live alone while most old-old men live with their spouses. Keep in mind that exact numbers vary by culture and cohort, but the described pattern is a common demographic reality in late life.