Older widows' intention to keep the generations separate.

As the population ages, increasing numbers of older persons face decisions related to their living arrangements. In predictive studies of coresidence of older parents and their adult children, scholars have not studied older persons' preferred living arrangements. To consider the intentions of 16 older widows with regard to their future situations, a descriptive phenomenological investigation was conducted. The phenomenon "keeping the generations separate" is presented with its two components: continuing to live alone at home and avoiding being a burden to the children. Considered in the contexts of their experience of living alone at home and the life-world, "keeping the generations separate" is a source of insight about influences on older widows' preferences for future living arrangements.