Patterns of Contacts for Residents of Age-Segregated and Age-Integrated Housing

Abstract

It has been suggested that age-segregated housing for the elderly is undesirable because elderly need contact with, and stimulation from, the young. Research has shown that, even in age-integrated housing, intergenerational contact is normally limited and greater density of age peers will lead to more opportunities for contacts and friendships. Interviews with residents of six retirement facilities and with matched controls in age-integrated housing showed that test residents interacted less than their controls with their children, grandchildren, and other relatives, and fewer had friends younger than 40. Test residents had, relative to their controls, more new friends and visited more with neighbors and with age-peer friends. Very little test-control difference was found on sufficiency of contact. A 2-year follow-up interview showed substantially the same patterns. It was concluded that age-segregated housing does imply different spheres of contacts but that either situation can be satisfactory for person who has freely made the choice.