Profiles of Expectations regarding Aging after Relocation to Assisted Living

Abstract

This study classified assisted living (AL) residents by expectations for future physical, cognitive, and socioemotional health in later life. The authors analyzed cross-sectional data from 202 AL residents. Study participants completed the 12-item expectations regarding aging survey. A K-means cluster analysis identified three subgroups: “lower expectations” (n = 55), “higher expectations” (n = 70), and “expecting adaptiveness” (n = 77). Subgroups varied by select demographic, health, and relocation-related factors. Results suggest that, despite similarities in physical and cognitive functioning, AL residents reported different expectations for health. Socioemotional functioning may help explain observed discrepancies between current health and future health-related expectations.

Keywords:

• expectations regarding aging;
• attitudes toward aging;
• health expectations;
• assisted living;
• long-term care

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part [EP] by the National Institute on Aging [Grant No. T32AG044296].