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.

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

Assessing the Potential of Technology to Describe Resident and Staff Interactions in Assisted Living Facilities

Jul 1, 2024
PURPOSE: Falls are a significant financial burden and health hazard for residents in assisted living facilities (ALFs). However, limited capacity to observe residents has hindered understanding of resident–staff interactions within rooms. The current study aimed to describe nurse–resident interactions using data from a remote technology combining computer vision and staff location tracking. METHOD: Eighty-three staff […]

Assessing the Potential of Technology to Describe Resident and Staff Interactions in Assisted Living Facilities

by Lea Efird-Green

PURPOSE: Falls are a significant financial burden and health hazard for residents in assisted living facilities (ALFs). However, limited capacity to observe residents has hindered understanding of resident–staff interactions within rooms. The current study aimed to describe nurse–resident interactions using data from a remote technology combining computer vision and staff location tracking. METHOD: Eighty-three staff […]

Do-Not-Hospitalize Orders in Assisted Living Facilities: Direct Care Workers’ Perspectives

Apr 1, 2024
Purpose: To gather sufficient qualitative data to create an intervention that would prevent direct care workers (DCWs) from sending residents with do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders to the hospital. Method: This was a qualitative study with eight participants that included a descriptive survey followed by semi-structured interviews. Results: DCWs were unfamiliar with DNH orders and their thinking […]

Do-Not-Hospitalize Orders in Assisted Living Facilities: Direct Care Workers’ Perspectives

by Lea Efird-Green

Purpose: To gather sufficient qualitative data to create an intervention that would prevent direct care workers (DCWs) from sending residents with do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders to the hospital. Method: This was a qualitative study with eight participants that included a descriptive survey followed by semi-structured interviews. Results: DCWs were unfamiliar with DNH orders and their thinking […]

Using Assisted Living Communities to Enhance Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Older Adults

Feb 1, 2024
Purpose: The older adult population continues to increase, resulting in greater use of health care resources. Nurses will be at the forefront of providing competent care to this population, but many nurses do not wish to work with the aged population after graduation. The current study sought to explore whether the addition of a clinical […]

Using Assisted Living Communities to Enhance Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Older Adults

by Lea Efird-Green

Purpose: The older adult population continues to increase, resulting in greater use of health care resources. Nurses will be at the forefront of providing competent care to this population, but many nurses do not wish to work with the aged population after graduation. The current study sought to explore whether the addition of a clinical […]

Effect of Quarantine on Body Weight Among Residents of Assisted Living Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sep 1, 2023
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of 53 assisted living residents who had been in room quarantine experienced significant weight loss; men had a greater risk of significant weight loss than women. If quarantine is used for future epidemics, weight should be monitored and reported to avoid negative health outcomes associated with rapid weight loss.

Effect of Quarantine on Body Weight Among Residents of Assisted Living Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of 53 assisted living residents who had been in room quarantine experienced significant weight loss; men had a greater risk of significant weight loss than women. If quarantine is used for future epidemics, weight should be monitored and reported to avoid negative health outcomes associated with rapid weight loss.

Social Connectedness Resource Preferences of Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Scoping Review Based on the WHO-ICF Framework

Sep 1, 2023
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A literature review examined the social activities preferred by assisted living residents, finding that residents preferred social activities organized by the community, such as games and outings. They also preferred civic life activities (e.g., volunteering) to connect with the broader community. Older residents and those living in larger communities tended to prefer activities provided by the community, while younger residents preferred more demanding physical activities.

Social Connectedness Resource Preferences of Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Scoping Review Based on the WHO-ICF Framework

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A literature review examined the social activities preferred by assisted living residents, finding that residents preferred social activities organized by the community, such as games and outings. They also preferred civic life activities (e.g., volunteering) to connect with the broader community. Older residents and those living in larger communities tended to prefer activities provided by the community, while younger residents preferred more demanding physical activities.

Successful Aging in Assisted Living: The Importance of Near Visual Acuity

Sep 1, 2022
Successful aging among independent community-dwelling older adults and those in residential settings is paramount to aging in place. The purpose of the current study was to explore how sensory, cognitive, and functional impairments affect successful aging in assisted living (AL) settings. Vision compromise was noted for near visual acuity (NVA) (14.3%) and distance visual acuity […]

Successful Aging in Assisted Living: The Importance of Near Visual Acuity

by Lea Efird-Green

Successful aging among independent community-dwelling older adults and those in residential settings is paramount to aging in place. The purpose of the current study was to explore how sensory, cognitive, and functional impairments affect successful aging in assisted living (AL) settings. Vision compromise was noted for near visual acuity (NVA) (14.3%) and distance visual acuity […]

Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions Intervention in Assisted Living

Aug 1, 2022
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Promoting Positive Care Interactions, a staff training program to establish positive care interactions with residents, was tested with 17 care staff in the memory care unit of one assisted living community. Although there were no significant changes in staff outcomes, participants’ perception of the community’s environment and policies improved, and staff showed good engagement throughout the study.

Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions Intervention in Assisted Living

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Promoting Positive Care Interactions, a staff training program to establish positive care interactions with residents, was tested with 17 care staff in the memory care unit of one assisted living community. Although there were no significant changes in staff outcomes, participants’ perception of the community’s environment and policies improved, and staff showed good engagement throughout the study.

Replication of Implementing a Sit-to-Stand Exercise Program in an Assisted Living Facility

Mar 1, 2022
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A 20-bed AL community in rural North Carolina implemented a sit-to-stand exercise program (i.e., having residents rise from a sitting position and then sit back down). A total of 13 residents participated in the program which was offered twice daily over 82 days. The average attendance rate for participants for all sessions was over 90%, and each participant was able to complete all 5 exercises during each session. Over the course of the program participants saw modest increases in average activities of daily living independence scores; however, these changes were not statistically significant. Activities that were measured included toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, and continence.

Replication of Implementing a Sit-to-Stand Exercise Program in an Assisted Living Facility

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A 20-bed AL community in rural North Carolina implemented a sit-to-stand exercise program (i.e., having residents rise from a sitting position and then sit back down). A total of 13 residents participated in the program which was offered twice daily over 82 days. The average attendance rate for participants for all sessions was over 90%, and each participant was able to complete all 5 exercises during each session. Over the course of the program participants saw modest increases in average activities of daily living independence scores; however, these changes were not statistically significant. Activities that were measured included toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, and continence.

Social Networks in Retirement and Assisted Living Communities: A Literature Review

Jan 1, 2022
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A systematic review showed that from 2015 to 2020, older adults in AL or retirement communities who had stronger social connections experienced improved health, and that over-reliance on only family for social interactions was associated with loneliness. Related recommendations to reduce loneliness include fostering diverse social networks and overcoming barriers like the inability to select roommates, lack of phone access, and potentially isolating community layouts.

Social Networks in Retirement and Assisted Living Communities: A Literature Review

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A systematic review showed that from 2015 to 2020, older adults in AL or retirement communities who had stronger social connections experienced improved health, and that over-reliance on only family for social interactions was associated with loneliness. Related recommendations to reduce loneliness include fostering diverse social networks and overcoming barriers like the inability to select roommates, lack of phone access, and potentially isolating community layouts.