An experimental group of older people (E) who moved to Intermediate Housing ( I H ) sponsored by the Philadelphia Geriatric Center is compared at baseline and at 6-mo. post-move follow-up to two control groups: those who applied to I H but moved elsewhere ( C l ) and those who applied but did not move ( C 2 ) . IH tenants clearly fared better: they improved in over-all satisfaction with living arrangements and apartments; their wish to move had dissipated to a much greater extent, and they had increased in enjoyment of life and social contacts. Problems evidenced at baseline in dissatisfaction with neighborhood were solved by both sets of movers (E and C l ) but remained for the nonmovers ( C 2 ) .
Intermediate Housing for the Elderly: Satisfaction of Those Who Moved in and Those Who Did Not1 Elaine M. Brody, MSSA, Morton H. Kleban, PhD, and Bernard Liebowitz, MSW 2
In recent years there has been a ground swell of interest in the development of a variety of options in living arrangements for older people. There had been a notable lack of such options that would fill in the gaps in the theoretical spectrum between the independence of living in one's own home on the one hand and institutional care on the other. The Philadelphia Geriatric Center's (PGC) Intermediate Housing for the Elderly (IH) is one of many possible models that can be created to meet that criterion. In order to test its impact, it is being evaluated by a research study in which the elderly tenants who moved into IH are being compared with two Control groups of those who expressed interest in IH: those who moved instead to other types of living arrangements in the community (Cl) and those who remained in their original living situations (nonmovers or C2) (Brody, 1970). . The research design called for baseline evaluations (at the time of application to IH) and follow-up evaluations 6 mo. after moving. A large number of variables was selected to compare the groups as to the effect of different living arrangements on their health, morale, satis1. Paper presented at 27th Annual Scientific meeting of Gerontological Society, Portland, Oct. 28-Nov. I, 1974. Research funded by NIMH and AoA Grant # MH 19936. The authors wish to express their indebtedness to Maurice Greenbaum, Administrative liaison, to David Ishizaki and Daniel Thurman, project managers, and to Bruce Ecker, Patricia A. Turner, and Robert Solms, research associates, for their major work in collecting and analyzing the data. 2. Mrs. Brody and Dr. Kleban are, respectively, Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator of research investigation "Intermediate Housing for the Elderly." Mr. Liebowitz is Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, 5301 Old York Rd., Philadelphia 19141.
faction, socialization, use of time, functional capacities, utilization of needed services and facilities, and general well-being. The 6-mo. follow-up evaluations having been completed, the first analysis of the data being reported here is concerned with four variables that can be grouped as "satisfaction." Specifically, the data derive from the subjects' responses at baseline and at the 6-mo. post-move follow-up to questions eliciting degree of satisfaction with neighborhood, with apartment (or house or other living space), and with over-all living arrangement. The fourth variable, also a direct response from the subjects, rated the degree to which the subject wished to move. Inclusion of the fourth question is based on the assumption that dissipation or increase in the wish to move relates directly to satisfaction with living arrangement. Background and Description of the Project Intermediate Housing for the Elderly evolved from the Center's experience with a pilot program over a 6-year period (see Bronson, 1972, for description of the pilot program). Large numbers of older people had become known to the PGC, people who urgently required new living situations but for whom institutions or highrise apartment buildings were not always suitable, available, or economically feasible. Many wished to maintain as much independence and privacy as possible but needed some services to enable them to do so. Supporting information
350
The Gerontologist
To expand the program, the Center purchased an additional seven houses (all of the type characterized as "twins" or semi-detached) on the same two adjacent streets. The architectural plans for the renovations were refined and the service package was modified. Figs. I and 2 illustrate the floor plans before and after the renovations. Each apartment is a self-contained unit with private bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. The living room is shared. Special attention was given to insuring maximum safety and comfort to the occupants (Brody; Kleban, & Liebowitz, 1973, describes the renovations in detail). Included in the basic rental, computed by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at $98 and $95 for 1st and 2nd floor apartments, respectively, are building maintenance and a telephone "hot line" from each house to the PGC hospital for medical emergencies. The Center provides social services to help the older people during the application and moving phases. Housekeeping and frozen daily main meals are optional "extras" that can be
was supplied by a series of studies of those who inquired about admission to the PGC's existing facilities (Liebowitz & Brody, 1970). Other studies and demonstrations elsewhere also identified groups of elderly people unable to move from substandard housing in depressed areas due to lack of economic means and/or available housing (see Brody, 1970, for review of the literature). In the pilot program, two semi-detached onefamily homes were purchased on a street adjacent to the Center and two different types of physical arrangements and service patterns were tested. The strengths and deficiencies of the pilot houses provided guidelines for expansion of the program. Experience had indicated the positive value of the combination of social space and private space; of the age-heterogeneous neighborhood that contributed to the sense of normal community living; of the proximity to the Center and its services, religious facilities, shopping and transportation; and finally of the exchange of services among tenants and the participation of their families.
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
CL BEDROOM
KITCHEH
BEDROOM KITCHEN
L 'BATH
BATH =
Intermediate Housing for the Elderly: Satisfaction of Those Who Moved in and Those Who Did Not1 Elaine M. Brody, MSSA, Morton H. Kleban, PhD, and Bernard Liebowitz, MSW 2
In recent years there has been a ground swell of interest in the development of a variety of options in living arrangements for older people. There had been a notable lack of such options that would fill in the gaps in the theoretical spectrum between the independence of living in one's own home on the one hand and institutional care on the other. The Philadelphia Geriatric Center's (PGC) Intermediate Housing for the Elderly (IH) is one of many possible models that can be created to meet that criterion. In order to test its impact, it is being evaluated by a research study in which the elderly tenants who moved into IH are being compared with two Control groups of those who expressed interest in IH: those who moved instead to other types of living arrangements in the community (Cl) and those who remained in their original living situations (nonmovers or C2) (Brody, 1970). . The research design called for baseline evaluations (at the time of application to IH) and follow-up evaluations 6 mo. after moving. A large number of variables was selected to compare the groups as to the effect of different living arrangements on their health, morale, satis1. Paper presented at 27th Annual Scientific meeting of Gerontological Society, Portland, Oct. 28-Nov. I, 1974. Research funded by NIMH and AoA Grant # MH 19936. The authors wish to express their indebtedness to Maurice Greenbaum, Administrative liaison, to David Ishizaki and Daniel Thurman, project managers, and to Bruce Ecker, Patricia A. Turner, and Robert Solms, research associates, for their major work in collecting and analyzing the data. 2. Mrs. Brody and Dr. Kleban are, respectively, Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator of research investigation "Intermediate Housing for the Elderly." Mr. Liebowitz is Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, 5301 Old York Rd., Philadelphia 19141.
faction, socialization, use of time, functional capacities, utilization of needed services and facilities, and general well-being. The 6-mo. follow-up evaluations having been completed, the first analysis of the data being reported here is concerned with four variables that can be grouped as "satisfaction." Specifically, the data derive from the subjects' responses at baseline and at the 6-mo. post-move follow-up to questions eliciting degree of satisfaction with neighborhood, with apartment (or house or other living space), and with over-all living arrangement. The fourth variable, also a direct response from the subjects, rated the degree to which the subject wished to move. Inclusion of the fourth question is based on the assumption that dissipation or increase in the wish to move relates directly to satisfaction with living arrangement. Background and Description of the Project Intermediate Housing for the Elderly evolved from the Center's experience with a pilot program over a 6-year period (see Bronson, 1972, for description of the pilot program). Large numbers of older people had become known to the PGC, people who urgently required new living situations but for whom institutions or highrise apartment buildings were not always suitable, available, or economically feasible. Many wished to maintain as much independence and privacy as possible but needed some services to enable them to do so. Supporting information
350
The Gerontologist
To expand the program, the Center purchased an additional seven houses (all of the type characterized as "twins" or semi-detached) on the same two adjacent streets. The architectural plans for the renovations were refined and the service package was modified. Figs. I and 2 illustrate the floor plans before and after the renovations. Each apartment is a self-contained unit with private bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. The living room is shared. Special attention was given to insuring maximum safety and comfort to the occupants (Brody; Kleban, & Liebowitz, 1973, describes the renovations in detail). Included in the basic rental, computed by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at $98 and $95 for 1st and 2nd floor apartments, respectively, are building maintenance and a telephone "hot line" from each house to the PGC hospital for medical emergencies. The Center provides social services to help the older people during the application and moving phases. Housekeeping and frozen daily main meals are optional "extras" that can be
was supplied by a series of studies of those who inquired about admission to the PGC's existing facilities (Liebowitz & Brody, 1970). Other studies and demonstrations elsewhere also identified groups of elderly people unable to move from substandard housing in depressed areas due to lack of economic means and/or available housing (see Brody, 1970, for review of the literature). In the pilot program, two semi-detached onefamily homes were purchased on a street adjacent to the Center and two different types of physical arrangements and service patterns were tested. The strengths and deficiencies of the pilot houses provided guidelines for expansion of the program. Experience had indicated the positive value of the combination of social space and private space; of the age-heterogeneous neighborhood that contributed to the sense of normal community living; of the proximity to the Center and its services, religious facilities, shopping and transportation; and finally of the exchange of services among tenants and the participation of their families.
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
CL BEDROOM
KITCHEH
BEDROOM KITCHEN
L 'BATH
BATH =
