Changes in the Composition of Unmarried Elderly Women's Households Between 1971 and 1991

Based on data from the 1971, 1981, and 1991 Annual Demographic Files of the Current Population Survey (CPS), this paper analyzes the changes in composition of the households of unmarried elderly women aged 65 years or older. The findings indicate that these women continued to choose living alone as their preferred living arrangement, and that in 1991, as compared with 1971, they were increasingly more likely to coreside with relatives as head of household rather than as dependents of the relatives. Significant racial differences also continued to exist in the composition of these women's households. But those who lived alone, especially blacks and Hispanics, were also more likely to be in poverty than those in other types of living arrangements. Implications for social policy and social services are discussed.