Center for Excellence in Assisted Living CEAL@UNC

Advancing the well-being of the people who live and work in assisted living through research, practice, and policy.

Canadian Journal on Aging

Exploring Constraints to Well-Being for Older Adults in Transition Into an Assisted Living Home: A Qualitative Study

Jul 1, 2023
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A theory-based thematic analysis was conducted on 14 interviews with assisted living residents from one community in the rural southeastern US. When asked to report experiences when transitioning to the community, residents felt a loss of independence, space, and belongings due to necessary downsizing. Results support the Modified Constraints to Wellbeing model, which theorizes that structural and intrapersonal constraints (e.g., loss of independence) lead to changes in social leisure pursuits after transitioning into assisted living, which negatively affects wellbeing. However, more research is needed.

Exploring Constraints to Well-Being for Older Adults in Transition Into an Assisted Living Home: A Qualitative Study

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A theory-based thematic analysis was conducted on 14 interviews with assisted living residents from one community in the rural southeastern US. When asked to report experiences when transitioning to the community, residents felt a loss of independence, space, and belongings due to necessary downsizing. Results support the Modified Constraints to Wellbeing model, which theorizes that structural and intrapersonal constraints (e.g., loss of independence) lead to changes in social leisure pursuits after transitioning into assisted living, which negatively affects wellbeing. However, more research is needed.

Digital Immunization Tracking in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities

Feb 1, 2023
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Vaccines are a part of the solution to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, but not everyone is getting them, especially older adults. In a Canadian study, pneumonia vaccine uptake was improved by providing assisted living and long-term care communities with vaccine coverage data and providing automatic reminders for subsequent doses. Therefore, a cloud-based digital vaccination record is one solution to promote the uptake of adult vaccines for older adults, as well as tracking immunization records and sharing them with policymaking organizations. This can improve communication and inform policymakers to reduce the risk of infection in AL communities.

Digital Immunization Tracking in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Vaccines are a part of the solution to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, but not everyone is getting them, especially older adults. In a Canadian study, pneumonia vaccine uptake was improved by providing assisted living and long-term care communities with vaccine coverage data and providing automatic reminders for subsequent doses. Therefore, a cloud-based digital vaccination record is one solution to promote the uptake of adult vaccines for older adults, as well as tracking immunization records and sharing them with policymaking organizations. This can improve communication and inform policymakers to reduce the risk of infection in AL communities.