Abstract
Chronic disease, functional limitation and the inability of caregivers to provide adequate assistance for elders often results in their need to transition from independent to assistive-type living environments. Research on this subject reveals there are challenges that occur prior to, during and following these transitions. Examining these transitions can 1) aid social workers and agencies to be better able to provide patient-centered and quality care to their patients, 2) provide support for the families who often face challenging circumstances associated with the aging of their loved ones, and 3) provide communities and the nation as a whole with crucial information about how they can improve services for this vulnerable population. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is to describe the challenges that occur when older adults transition from independent to more assistive types of housing and explore effective interventions to improve the transition experience.
