Social Ties in the Context of the Continuing Care Retirement Community

Abstract

In this article, we evaluate social ties in the context of the continuing care retirement community (CCRC). We interviewed 29 CCRC residents and 19 adult children about the transition to the CCRC. We analyzed the interviews thematically, while searching for consistencies and differences regarding social ties within and across interviews. Three major themes were identified: a time dimension, representing the perceived qualities of relationships based on the time during which the relationships were first formed; and two spatial dimensions, representing the CCRC vs. the community at large and private vs. public space and identity. The findings demonstrate that social ties can be classified according to dimensions of time, space, and quality—classifications that are not currently incorporated in the gerontological literature. Although CCRCs help to alleviate the social loneliness (i.e., lack of social ties) experienced by older adults, they are less successful in alleviating emotional loneliness (i.e., lack of intimate relations).