Results

Table 16.1 shows migration rates 1971-81 and 1981-91 among men and women aged 65 years and over at the start of the interval. Movers within and between counties are distinguished. The table shows that women accounted for some two-thirds of the movers in the group initially aged 65-74 years and nearly 80% of movers aged 75 years or more at the first point of observation. To a large extent this simply reflects the increasing predominance of women in older age groups, a result of gender differentials in mortality. However, some rates of migration were also higher among women. Among those aged 65-74 years at the start of the relevant decade, the proportion of local within-county movers was some 10% higher among women than men, although there was no gender difference in rates of migration between counties. In the 75 years and over age group, both within-and between-county migration rates were higher among women than men and the extent of this female ‘excess’ was

greater. In both age groups female migration rates were slightly higher relative to those of men in the 197181 decade than in 1981-91. Previous empirical and theoretical research would suggest that these gender and period differences are likely to reflect different ‘exposures’ to events that may trigger migration, including widowhood, other changes in household circumstances and deteriorating health. Data within the LS allow some examination of these issues as it is possible to analyse migration in relation to household change and, for the 1981-91 period, in relation to long-standing illness.