title: An empirical study of the influence of demographic variable on the choice criteria for assisted living facilities.
abstract: Despite the growth and prevalence of assisted-living facilities, empirical marketing research for these facilities is scarce. The objectives of this study were to determine the relative importance of three sets of evaluation criteria in the initial selection of an assisted-living facility, and determine whether the relative importance of these three sets of criteria differed by gender, marital status, level of household, age, or income of the consumer. Survey responses from 279 households indicates that primary service criteria are relatively more important than facilities amenities or organized social activities in the initial selection of an assisted-living facility. The relative importance of the choice criteria differed markedly by gender of the consumer, but marital status, level of household income, and age of the consumer did not have as great an impact on consumers' choice criteria.
authors.affiliation: Gladys A. Kelce School of Business, Pittsburg State University, KS 66762, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Bryan
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Clow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Bryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kurtz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001131:Arkansas; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D016852:Housing for the Elderly / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011998:Recreation; D012179:Retirement; D012637:Security Measures