Purpose: Although migration decision making is central to understanding later-life migration, the critical step between migration intentions and mobility outcomes has received only limited empirical attention. We address two questions: How often are intended moves actuated? What factors condition the likelihood that mobility intentions will be…

Purpose: We call attention to the widespread belief that the United States is an "increasingly mobile society," despite the fact that overall mobility has generally declined since about 1950, and interstate mobility has generally not increased during the same period. We review and extend past research documenting these mobility trends.…

With the aging of the world's population comes the rising need for qualified direct long-term-care (DLTC) workers (i.e., those who provide personal care to frail and disabled older adults). Developed nations are increasingly turning to immigrant women to fill these needs. In this article, we examine the impact of three global trends--population…

Surveyed local government officials and obtained socioeconomic data about local government regarding 103 municipalities and 62 counties in Florida to test 3 hypotheses concerning political impact of retirement migration on the Sunbelt. Findings suggest that aging persons, although politically active, are seldom involved in organized advocacy or…

Examines regional mobility and analyzes impact on local services. Regional relocation to the south and west has been occurring among the younger elderly since the 1960s and among the older elderly since the 1970s. Analysis indicates a lag in locating services in areas of expected demand. (Author/JAC)

Purpose: The authors examine the bibliographic structure of recent research on later-life migration, highlighting the contributions of particular journals and disciplines. Design and Methods: The authors identify the primary journals publishing research in this area, including a set of four core journals within the field of social gerontology.…

Explored variation in destination search among group of retirement migrants (n=163) in terms of distance between origin and destination, previous place experience with destination, and presence of friends and family at destination. Found that first two factors significantly restricted search for potential destinations, but third did not. Suggests…

Purpose: We examine the methodological and economic policy implications of three operationalizations of retirement migration. Design and Methods: We compared the traditional age-based definition of retirement migration and two retirement-based definitions, based on degree of labor-force participation and retirement income, by using the 2000 U.S.…

Purpose: The study of patterns of residential mobility among individuals around the age of retirement has led to the recognition that for many reasons--climate and cost of living being the most frequently cited--settlement patterns of comparatively affluent retirees will often differ from those of the working-age population. Increasingly,…

Examined effects of relocation in 18 elderly relocators to Israel from western countries. Identified six components of post-relocation adjustment: geographic location of self, control and independence, psychosocial integration, goal realization, subjective well-being, and need fulfillment. Developed and administered Index of Relocation Adjustment,…

Reviews the contribution geographers have made to the gerontological literature. The literature review is classified into the spatial organization theme and the interrelationship between people and their environment theme. A separate review is also made of the geographical literature dealing directly with policy issues. (JAC)

Interviewed 104 older American residents of Paris, France. Found that 70 percent had medium to high levels of sociocultural integration and 92 percent had adequate proficiency in French language. Concluded that congruence of Paris environment and individual values had implications for sociocultural integration; declines in health, income, and loss…

While research on functional decline in later life has expanded knowledge on aging, theories of functional transitions are needed. Proposes a conceptual model that views change as mobility between states. Exploring the analogy between geographic migration and functional change suggests several migration concepts that might be borrowed by aging…

Studied the role of kin in elderly amenity migration based upon interviews with recent migrants (N=92) to Sun City, Arizona. Migrants who maintained long-term ties to the community before moving usually relied upon relatives for migration information, but relatives were not an essential reason for choosing the community. (Author/JAC)

Older adults are generally satisfied with moving to the seaside, and are motivated by a more congenial physical environment and social advantages of living with retirees with similar interests. Unfortunately social and health services have not kept up with the demand. (JAC)