Social network type in the continuing care retirement community

The present study evaluated a social network typology of continuing care retirement community (CCRC) residents and examined it against their physical and emotional wellbeing. The social network typology was constructed, using a name-generator, followed by detailed questions about the characteristics of the individuals who make up the network and the nature of the relationship with them. Latent profile analysis was used to develop a typology of the social network in the CCRC. A two-profile solution had the best fit to the data (Entorpy =.955, BIC = 3178.397). This solution consisted of a friends-based network (N = 97), and a child-based network (N = 108). The two networks differed on most constituent variables used for the creation of the two profiles (e.g., overall network size, proportion of friends, family members and spouse in the network). The two profiles did not differ in terms of the number of medical conditions, impairment in activities of daily living, wellbeing, and loneliness. Possibly, compared with the community, network type plays a lesser role in the CCRC because of its social characteristics and attempt to meet older adults’ social needs.