Assisted living facility (ALF) residents are at greater risk of declining health and death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to advanced age, frailty, chronic conditions, and transmission prevention methods. One method, room quarantine, can lead to isolation and potential weight changes. Continuous room quarantine was mandated by the state for all nursing home and […]
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Social Connectedness Resource Preferences of Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Scoping Review Based on the WHO-ICF Framework
Social Connectedness Resource Preferences of Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Scoping Review Based on the WHO-ICF Framework
The current scoping review identified emerging evidence on social connectedness resource preferences of older adults in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and the community. A literature search was performed using several databases. We included review articles published between January 2000 and September 2022 in English and related to social connectedness resources in ALFs and the community. […]
Successful Aging in Assisted Living: The Importance of Near Visual Acuity
Successful Aging in Assisted Living: The Importance of Near Visual Acuity
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
Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions Intervention in Assisted Living
The current study aimed to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) intervention designed to establish positive care interactions between staff and residents in assisted living (AL) using an online approach. PPCI was implemented in one AL community using a single group pre-/posttest design; 17 care staff were recruited […]
Replication of Implementing a Sit-to-Stand Exercise Program in an Assisted Living Facility
Replication of Implementing a Sit-to-Stand Exercise Program in an Assisted Living Facility
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
Social Networks in Retirement and Assisted Living Communities: A Literature Review
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.