Attunements of care

Most older adults will require long-term care service or support at some point in their lives. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are a residential option designed to accommodate older adults’ movement through different levels of care along a continuum, from independent living to assisted, and then on to skilled nursing care. This dissertation is based on thirteen months of ethnographic research conducted with housekeeping and laundry staff at two CCRCs in the Midwest. Housekeeping and Laundry staff, also known as Environmental Services Staff (EVS), had explicit duties that included cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining the facilities, including public spaces, staff-only areas, and residents' private rooms. However, EVS staff often performed work that extended past these official duties.