Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Physical Boundaries And Social Networks: How Structural Configurations And Networks Of Support Influence Life Satisfaction In Assisted And Independent Living Facilities, Morgan Watts

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As the elderly population continues to grow, the importance of gaining knowledge on how assisted and independent living facilities affects residents’ psychological, social, and physical well-being also continues to grow. This research looked at how the structural difference of independent and assisted living facilities (the integration of living and recreational areas between different levels of assisted residents) affect residents’ social support networks and happiness in independent living as compared to assisted living. A qualitative analysis was used to determine other important themes about the well-being of these older adults.

The two facilities used in this study included Friendship Village, which …