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.

Families/Caregivers

State Regulations and Assisted Living Residents’ Potentially Burdensome Transitions at the End of Life

Jun 1, 2023
Background Potentially burdensome transitions at the end of life (e.g., repeated hospitalizations toward the end of life and/or health care transitions in the last three days of life) are common among residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) residents, and are associated with lower quality of end of-life care reported by bereaved family members. We examined the association […]

State Regulations and Assisted Living Residents’ Potentially Burdensome Transitions at the End of Life

by Lea Efird-Green

Background Potentially burdensome transitions at the end of life (e.g., repeated hospitalizations toward the end of life and/or health care transitions in the last three days of life) are common among residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) residents, and are associated with lower quality of end of-life care reported by bereaved family members. We examined the association […]

Caregiver Involvement and Concerns with Care of Residents of Assisted Living Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Apr 1, 2023
Introduction Family/friend caregivers play an essential role in promoting the physical and mental health of older adults in need of care – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and especially in assisted living (AL) homes, were resident care needs are similarly complex as in long-term care homes but fewer staffing resources and services are available. However, […]

Caregiver Involvement and Concerns with Care of Residents of Assisted Living Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Lea Efird-Green

Introduction Family/friend caregivers play an essential role in promoting the physical and mental health of older adults in need of care – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and especially in assisted living (AL) homes, were resident care needs are similarly complex as in long-term care homes but fewer staffing resources and services are available. However, […]

Robots in Assisted Living Facilities: Scoping Review

Mar 1, 2023
Background Various technological interventions have been proposed and studied to address the growing demand for care of residents in assisted living facilities, in which a preexisting shortage of professional caregivers has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Care robots are one such intervention with the potential to improve both the care of older adults and […]

Robots in Assisted Living Facilities: Scoping Review

by Lea Efird-Green

Background Various technological interventions have been proposed and studied to address the growing demand for care of residents in assisted living facilities, in which a preexisting shortage of professional caregivers has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Care robots are one such intervention with the potential to improve both the care of older adults and […]

Well-being of professional older adults’ caregivers in Alberta’s assisted living and long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study

Feb 1, 2023
Background For the care need of older adults, long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) facilities are expanding in Alberta, but little is known about the caregivers’ well-being. The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical health conditions, mental and emotional health (MEH), health behaviour, stress levels, quality of life (QOL), and turnover […]

Well-being of professional older adults’ caregivers in Alberta’s assisted living and long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study

by Lea Efird-Green

Background For the care need of older adults, long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) facilities are expanding in Alberta, but little is known about the caregivers’ well-being. The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical health conditions, mental and emotional health (MEH), health behaviour, stress levels, quality of life (QOL), and turnover […]

Coping Behaviors and Health Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Assisted Living Residents in Western Canada

Dec 1, 2022
Objectives To examine the prevalence of coping behaviors during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic among caregivers of assisted living residents and variation in these behaviors by caregiver gender and mental health. Design Cross-sectional and longitudinal survey. Setting and Participants Family/friend caregivers of assisted living residents in Alberta and British Columbia. Methods A […]

Coping Behaviors and Health Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Assisted Living Residents in Western Canada

by Lea Efird-Green

Objectives To examine the prevalence of coping behaviors during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic among caregivers of assisted living residents and variation in these behaviors by caregiver gender and mental health. Design Cross-sectional and longitudinal survey. Setting and Participants Family/friend caregivers of assisted living residents in Alberta and British Columbia. Methods A […]

Caregivers’ Concerns about Assisted Living Residents’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Sep 1, 2022
Family or friend caregivers’ concerns about assisted living (AL) residents’ mental health are reflective of poor resident and caregiver mental health. COVID-19-related visiting restrictions increased caregiver concerns, but research on these issues in AL is limited. Using web-based surveys with 673 caregivers of AL residents in Western Canada, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of […]

Caregivers’ Concerns about Assisted Living Residents’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

by Lea Efird-Green

Family or friend caregivers’ concerns about assisted living (AL) residents’ mental health are reflective of poor resident and caregiver mental health. COVID-19-related visiting restrictions increased caregiver concerns, but research on these issues in AL is limited. Using web-based surveys with 673 caregivers of AL residents in Western Canada, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of […]

Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers to Assisted Living Residents during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aug 1, 2022
Background Family and friend caregivers play significant roles in advocating for and ensuring quality health and social care of residents in Assisted Living (AL) homes. However, little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic and related visitor restrictions affected their health and mental well-being. We examined the prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms […]

Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers to Assisted Living Residents during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Lea Efird-Green

Background Family and friend caregivers play significant roles in advocating for and ensuring quality health and social care of residents in Assisted Living (AL) homes. However, little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic and related visitor restrictions affected their health and mental well-being. We examined the prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms […]

Developing a Toolkit to Improve Resident and Family Engagement in the Safety of Assisted Living: Engage – A Stakeholder-Engaged Research Protocol

May 1, 2022
Assisted living (AL) communities are experiencing rising levels of resident acuity, challenging efforts to balance person-centered care—which prioritizes personhood, autonomy, and relationship-based care practices—with efforts to keep residents safe. Safety is a broad-scale problem in AL that encompasses care concerns (e.g., abuse/neglect, medication errors, inadequate staffing, and infection management) as well as resident issues (e.g., […]

Developing a Toolkit to Improve Resident and Family Engagement in the Safety of Assisted Living: Engage – A Stakeholder-Engaged Research Protocol

by Lea Efird-Green

Assisted living (AL) communities are experiencing rising levels of resident acuity, challenging efforts to balance person-centered care—which prioritizes personhood, autonomy, and relationship-based care practices—with efforts to keep residents safe. Safety is a broad-scale problem in AL that encompasses care concerns (e.g., abuse/neglect, medication errors, inadequate staffing, and infection management) as well as resident issues (e.g., […]

Potential Side Effects and Adverse Events of Antipsychotic Use for Residents With Dementia in Assisted Living: Implications for Prescribers, Staff, and Families

Mar 1, 2022
Antipsychotic medications are frequently prescribed to assisted living (AL) residents who have dementia, although there is a lack of information about the potential side effects and adverse events of these medications among this population. Oversight and monitoring by family members is an important component of AL care, and it is important to understand family awareness […]

Potential Side Effects and Adverse Events of Antipsychotic Use for Residents With Dementia in Assisted Living: Implications for Prescribers, Staff, and Families

by Lea Efird-Green

Antipsychotic medications are frequently prescribed to assisted living (AL) residents who have dementia, although there is a lack of information about the potential side effects and adverse events of these medications among this population. Oversight and monitoring by family members is an important component of AL care, and it is important to understand family awareness […]