Abstract:

Using an ecological model of aging as a conceptual framework, the effects of local service availability on the well-being & behavior of 61 senior citizen apartment (SCA) residents in 2 SCA buildings in a Winnipeg, Manitoba, suburb are assessed via survey. Results of 6 regression models disclose proximity to grocery stores, pharmacies, & physicians' offices, plus global satisfaction with service proximity, as significant contributors to well-being. Health status & competence are the most significant predictors of life satisfaction. Trip frequencies by SCA tenants are approximately the same in the ideal & more distant local service environments. Implications of the findings for selecting sites for SCAs are considered.