Factors Predicting Retirement Community Social Space Success

Abstract

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) typically offer communal social spaces such as lounges and cafes for informal resident interaction. Even when social spaces are attractive and functional, residents like and use some spaces more than others. Given the cost of providing communal spaces, underused or un-liked spaces are an unacceptable outcome. This study’s purpose was to determine which factors predicted how well communal spaces were liked and used for resident informal social interaction at a Midwestern CCRC utilizing insights of independent living residents (n=303). Findings from this mixed methods research suggested the best predictors of how well a space was liked and used were: 1) Proximity of social space to resident daily paths of travel; 2) Sense of privacy within the space; and 3) Opportunities to actively engage with other residents and the built environment. Results from this research provide theoretical insight as well as practical design implications in addressing the problem of designing more consistently successful retirement community social spaces.