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.

Social

Experiences of Social Frailty Among Rural Community-Dwelling and Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

Apr 1, 2023
Although social frailty has been described from a theoretical perspective, the lived experiences of older adults regarding social frailty are yet unknown. In this paper, we aim to (a) gain more in-depth insights into community-dwelling and assisted-living older adults’ experiences of social frailty and (b) explore the differences in these experiences between these two groups. […]

Experiences of Social Frailty Among Rural Community-Dwelling and Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

by Lea Efird-Green

Although social frailty has been described from a theoretical perspective, the lived experiences of older adults regarding social frailty are yet unknown. In this paper, we aim to (a) gain more in-depth insights into community-dwelling and assisted-living older adults’ experiences of social frailty and (b) explore the differences in these experiences between these two groups. […]

A Home, an Institution and a Community – Frames of Social Relationships and Interaction in Assisted Living

Aug 1, 2022
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 […]

A Home, an Institution and a Community – Frames of Social Relationships and Interaction in Assisted Living

by Lea Efird-Green

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 […]

Interactions, Relationships and Belonging: Comparing Social Connectedness and Perceived Isolation among Older Women Living Alone in Private Homes and in Assisted Living

Jul 1, 2022
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 […]

Interactions, Relationships and Belonging: Comparing Social Connectedness and Perceived Isolation among Older Women Living Alone in Private Homes and in Assisted Living

by Lea Efird-Green

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 […]

Ethics of Health Information Sharing and Social Relationships at End of Life in Assisted Living

Apr 1, 2022
Given an observed tension between perceived privacy restrictions and meaningful social connection in assisted living (AL) and using a relational perspective, we conducted a secondary thematic analysis of health information sharing practices among residents and their care partners in one large urban AL community in metropolitan Atlanta. Data included in-depth interviews with residents (n = […]

Ethics of Health Information Sharing and Social Relationships at End of Life in Assisted Living

by Lea Efird-Green

Given an observed tension between perceived privacy restrictions and meaningful social connection in assisted living (AL) and using a relational perspective, we conducted a secondary thematic analysis of health information sharing practices among residents and their care partners in one large urban AL community in metropolitan Atlanta. Data included in-depth interviews with residents (n = […]

Exploring the Effectiveness of Virtual Compassionate Presence Sessions in Reducing Loneliness and Isolation among Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Mar 1, 2022
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 […]

Exploring the Effectiveness of Virtual Compassionate Presence Sessions in Reducing Loneliness and Isolation among Assisted-Living Older Adults: A Pilot Study

by Lea Efird-Green

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

Mar 1, 2022
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: […]

“You Lose Some Good Friends”: Death and Grief in Assisted Living

by Lea Efird-Green

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: […]

Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Being Out in the World and Negotiating Connections

Mar 1, 2022
Background and Objectives Persons living with dementia, including long-term care residents, and their care partners emphasize the importance of meaningful engagement and stress the need for activity and opportunities to go outdoors or offsite. Yet, little is known about getting out in this population. Here, our objectives are to (a) identify residents’ opportunities for, and […]

Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Being Out in the World and Negotiating Connections

by Lea Efird-Green

Background and Objectives Persons living with dementia, including long-term care residents, and their care partners emphasize the importance of meaningful engagement and stress the need for activity and opportunities to go outdoors or offsite. Yet, little is known about getting out in this population. Here, our objectives are to (a) identify residents’ opportunities for, and […]

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

Jan 1, 2022
Research has substantiated that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, earlier death, and reduced quality of life among older adults. Although there has been research focusing on social networks of nursing home residents and interventions to decrease loneliness and improve social interactions for older adults in varied settings, there is a gap […]

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

by Lea Efird-Green

Research has substantiated that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, earlier death, and reduced quality of life among older adults. Although there has been research focusing on social networks of nursing home residents and interventions to decrease loneliness and improve social interactions for older adults in varied settings, there is a gap […]