Residential relocation of amenity migrants to Florida: "unpacking" post-amenity moves.

OBJECTIVE

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.