Nichols, David L., Ph. D.Miloch, KimberlyBaker, PamelaKyle, Sara McVean2014-12-052014-12-0520131/1/2013http://hdl.handle.net/11274/3583The purpose of this study was to determine wellness specific requests of the Baby Boomer population in reference to hoosing a skilled nursing facility for self and family members. Participants are any individual born from 1946 ¨C 1964 with access to the survey via internet or hard copy. A survey was emailed using various hosting sites, such as corporate emails, social media sites, and forwards to additional contacts, containing questions regarding physical, social, and intellectual wellness preferences in the nursing setting. Returned survey responses through PsychData totaled 462, totaling 436 useable surveys. All data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21.0, using a significance level of p ¡Ü .05: for all analyses. Results of the study show that the specific demographics of income and education may not significantly determine the extent to which a Baby Boomer will prefer certain dimensions of wellness in a skilled nursing facility. However, gender has a significant impact on both physical and social wellness preferences based on Mann Whitney analysis. Physical wellness questions regarding meal options, walking trails, supervised exercise programs, adapted exercise programs, and overall wellness were all significantly different at p <.001. Mean scores indicate women place slightly greater importance on each measure of physical wellness. Social wellness and gender shows association when measuring (1) distance of facility from family members and potential visiting friends, (2) family proximity to facility (3) animal interaction, and (4) volunteer opportunities. While the differences between genders are statistically significant for four of the five social wellness questions, there is only a noticeable difference for animal interactions. Additionally, intellectual wellness is important to Baby Boomers, exhibited by selections of ongoing educational programs and accessibility to technology and internet communication via Wi-Fi availability. In conclusion, the majority of Baby Boomers surveyed seek physical and social wellness opportunities in long term care, specifically skilled nursing despite income and education levels.en-USKinesiologyAgingBaby boomersNursingSkilled nursing facilitiesWellnessDissertation