Residential Relocation of Amenity Migrants to Florida: “Unpacking” Post-amenity Moves

• Published in: Journal of aging and health Vol. 22; no. 7; pp. 1001 - 1028
• Main Authors: Lovegreen, Loren D., Kahana, Eva, Kahana, Boaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2010; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; British Columbia; Chi-Square Distribution; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Female; Florida; Health Status; Health technology assessment; Humans; Life Change Events; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Migration; Older people; Qualitative Research; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Retirement; Retirement - statistics & numerical data; Studies; Time Factors; Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data; Florida; British Columbia; United States > US; migration; demography; disability
• ISSN: 0898-2643; 1552-6887
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264310374507

Objectives: This study aimed to unpack characteristics of interstate and intrastate moves undertaken by elderly amenity migrants. The authors examined these moves in the context of Litwak and Longino’s life-course typology of migration. Method: In an 11-year longitudinal study, the authors examined the first move made by respondents out of a large Florida retirement community where no services were offered. Data from premove and postmove in-person interviews were used. Results: This article found five distinct post-amenity move types, reflecting different degrees of dependency: (a) serial amenity moves, (b) positioning moves, (c) informal assistance moves, (d) formal assistance moves, and (e) dependency moves. Discussion: Findings of this study not only support Litwak and Longino’s migration typology but also elaborate and extend it. Only some older adults (20.4%) make counterstream assistance moves. Additional move types reflect new options for late-life migration to enhance person— environment fit.