Moving to Improve? Housing Changes and Health-Related Outcomes Around Later-Life Relocation: Evidence from the German Aging Survey

Using longitudinal data from the German Aging Survey (1996–2023), we examined 491 relocations between private dwellings among adults aged 60 and older. Relocation was associated with downsizing and markedly improved housing equipment, whereas ratings of the residential environment changed only slightly and tended to decline among movers aged 80 and older. Functional ability remained stable among movers in their 60s and 70s but declined around relocation among those aged 80 and older, without further decline thereafter. Self-rated health was poorer around relocation among movers aged 70 and older, whereas general activity limitations were lower after relocation among movers in their 60s and 70s. Results were robust to including the first relocation of respondents who moved more than once. Relocation may support adaptation, although health-related changes remained clearly heterogeneous overall.