Date of Completion

Spring 5-8-2011

Thesis Advisor(s)

Nancy W. Sheehan

Honors Major

Human Development and Family Studies

Disciplines

Environmental Public Health | Family, Life Course, and Society | Other Social and Behavioral Sciences | Place and Environment | Social Psychology and Interaction

Abstract

This study is a qualitative study looking at the social interactions and social activities in an assisted living facility, based on the residents’ perceptions. In this study I interviewed 20 residents of an affordable assisted living facility. The participants were male and female, 65 or older, and any ethnicity. Inclusion criteria include: (1) Residing in the assisted living facility at least 6 months and no more than 2 years; and (2) being mentally competent to give informed consent. I recruited the participants based on a list of who was eligible from the facilities administration and then asked the eligible participants if they wanted to participate. I then transcribed the interviews, coded them and looked any for emerging themes.

Some of these emerging themes are relationships with other residents being superficial, the inability to adjust to the facility and how that is affected by the choice (or lack of it) in coming to this facility. Another theme that is starting to emerge is the plethora of things to do, but the lack of interest of the residents to participate.

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