A Typology of New Residents' Adjustment to Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The study was designed to examine the diverse experiences of older adults upon their transition to continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs).

Design and methods: As part of a larger qualitative study on CCRC residents and their adult children, the first wave of interviews with 59 CCRC residents located in 12 different CCRCs was analyzed. A line-by-line analysis was followed by constant comparisons within each interview and across interviews in order to identify commonalities and differences. Subsequent to the identification of major thematic categories, whole interviews were analyzed to identify unique response-patterns across interviews.

Findings: Three major themes emerged: (a) continuity versus discontinuity in life experiences following the transition to the CCRC; (b) time-orientation (e.g., past, present, or future); and (c) place attachment (e.g., within the CCRC or in the larger community). These 3 themes distinguished among four different types of CCRC residents: "shades of gray," "still searching after all these years," "disapprover," and "I finally found it."

Implications: The study offers a unique perspective on the adjustment process to CCRCs, by stressing the need to view qualitative differences in adjustment, rather than level of adjustment. Whereas CCRCs allow a segment of older adults to truly enjoy the opportunity for a new beginning in old age, for others, the transition does not pose a major change from past life experiences and is not viewed with the same level of enthusiasm.

Keywords: Adjustment; Continuing care retirement community; Institutional care; Long-term care; Older adults; Social support.