The purpose of this study was to test the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of implementation of Function Focused Care for Assisted Living Using the Evidence Integration Triangle in Assisted Living Communities with Residents with Dementia (FFC-AL-EIT-D) during the pandemic. This was a single group pre-post study design including 51 communities in a single state. The […]
Academic Publication
Governance of Assisted Living in Singapore: Lessons for Aging Countries
Governance of Assisted Living in Singapore: Lessons for Aging Countries
A global trend toward aging populations means that the challenge of providing adequate long-term care to older people looms large in many countries. In Singapore, a public discourse revolving around the expansion of assisted living to create age-friendly environments in long-term care has emerged. This study examines Singapore’s experience in developing regulations for assisted living […]
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 […]
Impact of Dentures on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Assisted Living Facility Elders, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh
Impact of Dentures on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Assisted Living Facility Elders, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh
Background: Dentures can improve dental function and appearance in older people, but they may reduce oral health-related quality of life. Further research is needed to determine how denture wearing affects the general health and well-being of assisted living home residents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed among 587 inmates of old-age homes […]
Factors Associated with the Quality of Staff-Resident Interactions in Assisted Living
Factors Associated with the Quality of Staff-Resident Interactions in Assisted Living
Background Care interactions are verbal or nonverbal interactions between staff and residents during social or physical care activities. The quality of care interactions could be positive, negative, or neutral. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the resident- and facility-level factors associated with the care interactions in assisted living (AL). Methods Regression analysis […]
Dementia and COVID-19 Infection Control in Assisted Living in Seven States
Dementia and COVID-19 Infection Control in Assisted Living in Seven States
Background Assisted living (AL) is the largest residential long-term care provider in the United States, including for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Despite recognizing the challenge of infection control for persons with dementia, this study of 119 AL communities is the first to describe dementia-relevant COVID-19 infection control across different types of AL […]
Administrator Turnover in Oregon Assisted Living and Residential Care Communities, March 2020–February 2021
No abstract available.
Melatonin Prescribing in Assisted Living
Melatonin Prescribing in Assisted Living
Objectives: Aging is associated with sleep problems, which are common among assisted living (AL) residents. More than 40% of residents have insomnia, and almost 70% have a sleep disturbance of some kind. Melatonin to treat sleep disorders has become common among older adults, but its use in AL is unknown, which is concerning because melatonin […]
As-Needed Prescribing and Administration of Psychotropic Medications in Assisted Living: A 7-State Study
As-Needed Prescribing and Administration of Psychotropic Medications in Assisted Living: A 7-State Study
Objectives Psychotropic medications administered on an as-needed basis, often designated as pro re nata (or PRN, hereafter as-needed), can alleviate acute symptoms and facilitate deprescribing, although as-needed use is associated with negative outcomes such as polypharmacy and drug interactions. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which PRN psychotropic medications are […]
Antibiotic Deescalation Opportunities for Residents in Assisted Living Facilities
Antibiotic Deescalation Opportunities for Residents in Assisted Living Facilities
Antibiotic prescribing patterns offer insights into clinical care across different health care settings, especially in nursing homes (NHs). These residents are highly susceptible to infection and are frequently inappropriately treated with antibiotics. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a common cause of adverse drug events, colonization, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and Clostridioides difficile […]
Engagement with life among the oldest-old in assisted living facilities: enriching activities and developmental adaptation to physical loss
Engagement with life among the oldest-old in assisted living facilities: enriching activities and developmental adaptation to physical loss
The objective of this study was to examine the activities, motivations, and barriers of activity engagement in the oldest-old residing in assisted living facilities (ALFs). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants, aged 80–94 (standard deviation = 4.38), from two ALFs. Thematic analyses were used to identify and corroborate clusters of experiences. All residents stated […]
End-Of-Life Care In Assisted Living Communities: Race And Ethnicity, Dual Enrollment Status, And State Regulations
End-Of-Life Care In Assisted Living Communities: Race And Ethnicity, Dual Enrollment Status, And State Regulations
Assisted living communities are the final home for many of their residents, most of whom are older, frail, and cognitively or functionally impaired. Yet little is known about end-of-life care in this setting. We examined associations of both death at home and home hospice care with individual characteristics, such as race or ethnicity and dual […]
“We Weathered the Storm”: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Assisted Living Administrators during the COVID-19 Pandemic
“We Weathered the Storm”: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Assisted Living Administrators during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The purpose of the current qualitative phenomenological study is to learn about the lived experiences of assisted living (AL) community administrators during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Little is known about how administrators coped with the ever-changing mandates (e.g., visitation, testing, communal activities, acceptance of COVID-positive residents). Semi-structured interviews with AL administrators were conducted, […]
Developing a Toolkit to Improve Resident and Family Engagement in the Safety of Assisted Living: Engage – A Stakeholder-Engaged Research Protocol
Developing a Toolkit to Improve Resident and Family Engagement in the Safety of Assisted Living: Engage – A Stakeholder-Engaged Research Protocol
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., […]
Effects of the Mobility-Fit Physical Activity Program on Strength and Mobility in Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Feasibility Study
Effects of the Mobility-Fit Physical Activity Program on Strength and Mobility in Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Feasibility Study
Physical activity programs focusing on fall prevention often overlook upper-limb strength, which is important for transferring, balance recovery, and arresting a fall. We developed and evaluated a physical activity program, Mobility-Fit for older adults in Assisted Living (AL) that includes upper-limb strengthening, agility, coordination, and balance exercises. Thirty participants (85 ± 6 years) were recruited […]
Ethics of Health Information Sharing and Social Relationships at End of Life in Assisted Living
Ethics of Health Information Sharing and Social Relationships at End of Life in Assisted Living
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 = […]
The Ethics in Long-Term Care Model: Everyday Ethics and the Unseen Moral Landscape of Assisted Living
The Ethics in Long-Term Care Model: Everyday Ethics and the Unseen Moral Landscape of Assisted Living
Assisted living (AL) communities are long-term care settings where people live, work, and visit, and where social relationships and care, including end-of-life care, are negotiated. Assisted living is fraught with uncertainty and conflict about values, especially given residents’ cognitive and physical frailty. These value-laden issues have implications for both resident and care partners’ experiences. Yet, […]
Bridging the Transition to Assisted Living: A Framework for Faith Community Nursing
Bridging the Transition to Assisted Living: A Framework for Faith Community Nursing
The transition from independent living to assisted living is a significant life process that may be compared to crossing a bridge. Faith community nurses can support older adults through this transition. This article presents a conceptual meaning of transition, a framework with a spiritual dimension, and implications for Christian nurses. A case study illustrates how […]
Does Service Provider Matter during a Pandemic? COVID-19 Cases and Deaths among Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Assisted Living Facilities in Florida
Does Service Provider Matter during a Pandemic? COVID-19 Cases and Deaths among Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Assisted Living Facilities in Florida
When COVID-19 hit the U.S. in early 2020, individuals aged 65+ were identified as a higher risk population. In Florida, Governor DeSantis issued Emergency Order 20-006 to prohibit visitation to facilities housing groups of high-risk people, including assisted living facilities (ALFs). Regardless, 672 ALFs of the 3,019 in Florida had reported at least one positive […]
SARS-CoV-2 in Assisted Living: Mortality and Asymptomatic Infection
SARS-CoV-2 in Assisted Living: Mortality and Asymptomatic Infection
In response to a rapid rise in mortality within assisted living, facility-wide resident testing found 42% of 182 residents had SARS-CoV-2 infection; 68% of which were asymptomatic for 14 days before and after testing. Resident testing was a critical infection control measure needed to control transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior of Residents in Assisted Living: A Preliminary Study
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior of Residents in Assisted Living: A Preliminary Study
Low physical activity (PA) and high sedentary behavior (SB) place residents in assisted living at risk for physical decline, but little is known about factors that influence PA/SB in this setting. In the current cross-sectional study, we described objectively measured PA/SB (activPAL™) and examined the relationships between PA/SB and use of an assistive walking device, […]
Potential Side Effects and Adverse Events of Antipsychotic Use for Residents With Dementia in Assisted Living: Implications for Prescribers, Staff, and Families
Potential Side Effects and Adverse Events of Antipsychotic Use for Residents With Dementia in Assisted Living: Implications for Prescribers, Staff, and Families
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: This study examined the use of antipsychotic medications among residents with dementia in 91 AL communities across seven states. The prevalence of potential side effects was high (93%) and of possible adverse events low, (6%), potentially associated with medication side effects. Quetiapine (Seroquel) and risperidone (Risperdal) were the most frequently prescribed antipsychotics. Most, but not all, residents’ family members were aware of their relative’s antipsychotic use.
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.
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
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A pilot study investigated the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence (CP) sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among older adults in AL when facilitated by college students trained in CP. CP involves deep, attentive, and nonjudgmental listening while being fully present. Eighteen older adults participated in CP sessions over 10 weeks and were interviewed 2 months after the last session. Semi-structured interview results revealed a self-reported decrease in participants’ feelings of isolation and loneliness and an increase in overall mood.