Keywords

Older adults, Senior living communities, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Generational differences, The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers

Abstract

In the past twenty years, the senior living industry in the United States has been steadily growing and evolving to meet older adults’ varying needs; however, there is a lack of comprehensive studies examining how older adults’ perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet their needs influence their intentions to join such communities. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the influence of older adults’ (Silent and Baby Boomer Generations) perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet each of their needs (physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) on their intentions to join senior living communities and (2) to examine the moderating effects of generational differences on the relationships between the older adults’ (Silent and Baby Boomer Generations) perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet each of their needs and their intentions to join senior living communities.

This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach. In the qualitative phase, three focus group interviews (19 participants) were conducted to understand how residents’ perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet their needs influenced their intentions to join their communities. In the quantitative phase, using the Qualtrics panel, 366 online surveys were collected from older adults to test the study hypotheses using structural equation modeling analysis.

Study results revealed that older adults’ perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet their love and belonging and esteem needs positively influenced their intentions to join such communities; however, this was not the case for physiological [foodservice, housing], safety, and self-actualization needs. Generational differences only moderated the relationship between older adults’ perceptions of senior living communities’ ability to meet their love and belonging needs and their intentions to join such communities. Insightful theoretical implications for senior living literature and practical implications for senior living community practitioners are offered.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Hancer, Murat

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Department

Hospitality Services

Degree Program

Hospitality Management

Format

application/pdf

Release Date

8-15-2029

Length of Campus-only Access

5 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Campus-only Access)

Campus Location

Rosen Campus

Accessibility Status

Meets minimum standards for ETDs/HUTs

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Restricted to the UCF community until 8-15-2029; it will then be open access.

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