A typology of social climates in group residential facilities for older people.
A typology of the social climates of group residential facilities for older people was developed by a cluster analysis of seven social climate attributes obtained on a national sample of 235 nursing homes, residential care facilities, and congregate apartments. The analysis yielded six distinct types of social climate: Supportive, Self-Directed; Supportive, Well-Organized; Open Conflict; Suppressed Conflict; Emergent-Positive; and Unresponsive. Facility and resident characteristics were related to social climate type. In addition, the type of social climate was related to resident adaptation. Supportive, Self-Directed and Supportive, Well-Organized facilities had residents who rated higher in well-being and levels of self-initiated activities and who used fewer health services. A configural approach to describing social climates and their determinants and effects may help to develop more humanistic residential facilities and to better match individual residents to appropriate housing placements.
Timko
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Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, California.
Moos
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010067:Ownership; D012931:Social Environment