The Impact of Living Arrangements and Social Capital on the Well-Being of the Elderly

Abstract

This study examines the impact of living arrangements and social capital on the subjective well-being of the elderly, as well as the mutual effects and relationships between the well-being and self-rated health status of the elderly. A total of 369 questionnaires were administered, and the effective recovery rate was 98.10%. The results indicate three key findings: (1) the current location for aging in place, social support, social activities, house ownership, and self-rated health status are indispensable factors affecting the well-being of the elderly. The best location for aging in place was the community, where the elderly’s sense of well-being was highest—the next best options were aging at home and institutional care. (2) Elderly people with sole ownership of their homes were more likely to have higher levels of well-being than those owning jointly or who were tenants. (3) There was significant interaction between subjective well-being and self-rated health status.