Objective To investigate mental health needs and barriers to seeking mental health support in Medicaid funded Assisted Living Facility (M-ALF). Design A multimethod, qualitative-dominant descriptive design using questionnaires and semistructured interviews. Setting and Participants The study occurred at a M-ALF in the Bronx, New York. A researcher in residence recruited 13 residents (11 Black or […]
Mental Health
Attachment Behaviours in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Assisted Living Facilities: Representations from Direct-Care Staff
Attachment Behaviours in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Assisted Living Facilities: Representations from Direct-Care Staff
BACKGROUND Studies on individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) indicate that primary care staff are potential attachment figures. Therefore, the ability to interpret and respond to attachment behaviours with sensitivity is crucial for professionals working with adults with IDs. However, little is known regarding representations and understanding of these attachment behaviours among professionals. This study investigated […]
Well-being of professional older adults’ caregivers in Alberta’s assisted living and long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study
Well-being of professional older adults’ caregivers in Alberta’s assisted living and long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study
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
Coping Behaviors and Health Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Assisted Living Residents in Western Canada
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 […]
Recommendations for Medical and Mental Health Care in Assisted Living Based on an Expert Delphi Consensus Panel
Recommendations for Medical and Mental Health Care in Assisted Living Based on an Expert Delphi Consensus Panel
Importance: Assisted living (AL) is the largest provider of residential long-term care in the US, and the morbidity of AL residents has been rising. However, AL is not a health care setting, and concern has been growing about residents’ medical and mental health needs. No guidance exists to inform this care. Objective: To identify consensus […]
Caregivers’ Concerns about Assisted Living Residents’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Caregivers’ Concerns about Assisted Living Residents’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
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 […]
A Home, an Institution and a Community – Frames of Social Relationships and Interaction in Assisted Living
A Home, an Institution and a Community – Frames of Social Relationships and Interaction in Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities are presented as the older person’s home but, at the same time, defined by institutional and communal characteristics. Using Goffman’s (1974/1986) concept of frame, we aim to find out how home, institution and community frames define social roles and shape social relationships and interaction in assisted living facilities. Directed content analysis was […]
Depression within the First Year of Relocation to Residential Care/Assisted Living: Where You Come From Matters
Depression within the First Year of Relocation to Residential Care/Assisted Living: Where You Come From Matters
Depression is common within the first year of relocation to residential care/assisted living (RC/AL). Yet, few studies investigate the relationship between depression and relocation factors that might help identify at-risk residents, such as previous location. This study analyzed cross-sectional resident data (n = 2651) from the National Survey of Residential Care Facilities to test: (1) […]
Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers to Assisted Living Residents during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study
Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers to Assisted Living Residents during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study
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 […]
Interactions, Relationships and Belonging: Comparing Social Connectedness and Perceived Isolation among Older Women Living Alone in Private Homes and in Assisted Living
Interactions, Relationships and Belonging: Comparing Social Connectedness and Perceived Isolation among Older Women Living Alone in Private Homes and in Assisted Living
Age-related changes shape social connectedness, isolation and loneliness among older adults. Ageing often accompanies decisions about ageing in place or moving (i.e. senior living facility). Scant research compares these two living arrangements and even sparser research focuses on older women. This study, thus, poses the following questions: How do older women (aged 75+ years) experience […]
Yoga Practice as a Coping Strategy for Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities: A Qualitative Content Analysis
Yoga Practice as a Coping Strategy for Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities: A Qualitative Content Analysis
Introduction: Living in an assisted living facility (ALF) can be stressful for some residents. Hatha yoga has been demonstrated to facilitate coping among the general population, but this has not been explored with residents of ALFs. The purpose of this study was to explore participants’ proactive use of yoga during and after a yoga intervention […]
Exploring the Effectiveness of Virtual Compassionate Presence Sessions in Reducing Loneliness and Isolation among Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Exploring the Effectiveness of Virtual Compassionate Presence Sessions in Reducing Loneliness and Isolation among Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Pilot Study
This pilot study explored the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence (CP) sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among assisted-living older adults. Twenty-two older adults participated in 10-week virtual CP sessions facilitated by college students. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants post-intervention. Participants reported a decreased feeling of loneliness, improved mood, and increased feeling of […]
“You Lose Some Good Friends”: Death and Grief in Assisted Living
“You Lose Some Good Friends”: Death and Grief in Assisted Living
The purpose of this study was to investigate responses to death at multiple levels within the assisted living (AL) system and to characterize the psychosocial impact of death on surviving residents. This study used secondary thematic analysis of multiple data sources collected as part of a larger quantitative-focused study with 21 ALs. Data sources included: […]