Most of the time when we think about cohabiting couples, we imagine younger adults who living together before they get married or instead of marrying. But, according to the 2000 Census, there are more than a million individuals over the age of 50 who are cohabiting and this number is increasing, as baby boomers reach their 50s and 60s.

A recent study conducted by researchers from Bowling Green University used data from the 2000 U.S. Census data and the 1998 Health and Retirement Study to find out more about older cohabiting adults. In contrast with young cohabitors, who tend to live together before they marry, about 90% of older cohabitors were previously married.

In addition, this research compared older cohabitors with individuals who were remarried, divorced and never married. Older cohabitors, especially women, appeared to be more disadvantaged in some ways. They had lower incomes and were less likely to own their own homes when compared to remarried persons. Additionally, cohabiting women’s income was only about two-thirds the income of remarried women and cohabiting women were three times less likely to have health insurance. Cohabitors were more likely than remarrieds to use alcohol. And, they scored lower on social relationships, such as having friends living nearby.

There are still many unknowns about older cohabitors as this is a relatively new phenomenon affecting large numbers of people. However, researchers are already exploring the strengths and weaknesses of these new “families” and how men and women choose to share their later years

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Podcast: Cohabitation among Older Adults
Written by: Suzanna Smith