Working Paper Summary #5
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Pathways Working Paper #5 Sugihara, S., & Evans, G. W. (1999, February). Place Attachment and Social Support at Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
Shiho Sugihara
Gary W. Evans, Cornell University
Objectives
Investigate the links between features of the CCRC living unit and residents’ psychological well-being.
Key findings
- Persons who lived closer to the central building and activity center, who had smaller functional distance from neighbors and who shared nearby garden space with neighbors felt more place attachment
- Social support was positively influenced by smaller functional distance and proximity to the central building.
Implications
Since those who live furthest from the central building are at risk of lower psychological well-being, designers of congregate housing should consider designs which minimize and equalize the distance between living units and the central building. Architects could further increase resident well-being by creating designs which increase the opportunities for informal interactions between residents.
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