Trends in living conditions and satisfaction among poorer older South Africans : Objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the October household survey

The majority of South Africa's older population is income poor and lives in multigeneration households. (...) This article asks how the older poor have benefited from government interventions in the period 1995-8. Drawing on data compiled from Statistics South Africa's household surveys in 1995 and 1998 (...), a set of over 35 objective and subjective indicators broken down by income and younger and older households is reviewed. (...) Major material gains for the poor and older households during the review period include access to clean water, electricity and home ownership. (...) The study concludes that the most effective mechanism for poverty alleviation appears to be the non-contributory, means-tested state old-age pension, which lifts some households out of the most disadvantaged bottom income group. Policies under discussion promise further opportunities for empowering poor households with older members. (Dev South Afr/DÜI)