Changes in Geographical Proximity Between Generations According to Children's Relationships and Inheritance Bequest Expectations: Comparison Between Elderly Households Living Alone and Not Living Alone

This study examined the impact of children's relationships, inheritance expectations, and geographic proximity between elderly parents and adult children in the context of care. We used KLoSA data from 2012 to 2020 for nonresident elderly households aged 65 or older with children. Results reveal that the residential adjustment factor for living close to children is expected to increase for older parents who require care support due to deteriorating health, have available resources such as the number of surviving children or daughters, live in major cities, and have relatively low relocation costs. In single-elderly households, the proximity of both sons and daughters increased, and expectations of inheritance bequest played a significant role. Meanwhile, this suggests that elderly parents who have resources for their children and meet more than once a week are less likely to want to relocate. Finally, the increased living proximity between elderly parents and adult children could be the result of a residential adjustment process to be closer to children where the need for elderly care is high but not available or not living close enough to their children.