Creating a therapeutic milieu in retirement communities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Environmental Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Elderly relocation to retirement communities necessitates person-milieu adjustment.
• Prior research indicates varied adjustment outcomes among elders in different retirement communities.
• This study investigates therapeutic factors in retirement communities influencing elder adjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify lacking therapeutic factors in retirement communities where elders experienced adjustment difficulties.
• To evaluate environmental characteristics of retirement communities against Shives' therapeutic milieu model.
• To inform improvements in retirement community environments for better elder readjustment.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of qualitative data from a study of 104 relocated elders.
• Examination of researchers' observations, field notes, and elder narratives.
• Evaluation of environmental characteristics against Shives' eight dimensions of a therapeutic milieu.

Main Results:

• Most retirement communities did not fully implement all eight dimensions of a therapeutic milieu.
• Individualized treatment programs were notably absent in many communities.
• Activities often lacked individual assessment basis and failed to promote personal growth.

Conclusions:

• Retirement communities frequently lack essential therapeutic milieu characteristics.
• Enhancing the therapeutic environment is crucial for successful elder readjustment.
• Addressing deficiencies in individualized care and growth-oriented activities is recommended.