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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 13, No. 4, 627-634 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407596134009

The Roommate Relationship for the Elderly Nursing Home Resident

Samantha S. Kovach

Arizona State University

James D. Robinson

University of Dayton

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the roommate relationship for the institutionalized elderly adult. More specifically, two research questions were examined: Does roommate rapport predict life-satisfaction for elderly nursing home residents? What variables contribute to roommate rapport for the elderly nursing home resident? For this study, 50 elderly persons from six different long-term care facilities were interviewed. The nursing home residents ranged in age from 58 to 98 years, with 43 persons 75 years of age or older. The participants completed the Life Satisfaction Index A, the Short Form of the Roommate Rapport Scale and the Adult Communication Questionnaire through personal interviews. The results of this study indicated that roommate rapport predicted life satisfaction only for those who talked to their roommates. Perceived talk, engaging in activities with one's roommate and talking about the topic of family predicted roommate rapport for the elderly. Nearly half of the elderly residents never talked to their roommates. Most of the reasons for this centered around physical barriers to communication such as hearing problems and speech impediments.

Key Words: elderly • nursing homes • roommates


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D. T. F. Lee, J. Woo, and A. E. Mackenzie
The Cultural Context of Adjusting to Nursing Home Life: Chinese Elders' Perspectives
Gerontologist, October 1, 2002; 42(5): 667 - 675.
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