The desirable scale: Weighing social quality of assisted living facilities

Nearly 2.5 million Americans currently reside in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the United States, accounting for approximately five percent of persons sixty-five and older. The aging of the “Baby Boomer” generation is expected to lead to an exponential growth in the need for some form of long-term care (LTC) for this segment of the population within the next twenty-five years. In light of these sobering demographic shifts, there is an urgency to address the profound concerns that exist about the quality-of-care (QoC) and quality-of-life (QoL) of this frailest segment of our population.

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Changes in malnutrition and quality of nutritional care among aged residents in all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Helsinki 2003–2011

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2017.06.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 72 ◽

pp. 169-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Riitta K.T. Saarela ◽

Seija Muurinen ◽

Merja H. Suominen ◽

Niina N. Savikko ◽

Helena Soini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Homes ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Nutritional Care

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Sleep Quality in Residents of Assisted Living Facilities: Effect on Quality of Life, Functional Status, and Depression

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02815.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 829-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Martin ◽

Lavinia Fiorentino ◽

Stella Jouldjian ◽

Karen R. Josephson ◽

Cathy A. Alessi

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Functional Status ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Assisted Living Facilities

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Quality of Life and Functioning of People With Mental Disorders Who Underwent Deinstitutionalization Using Assisted Living Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.622973 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Rejane Coan Ferretti Mayer ◽

Maíra Ramos Alves ◽

Sueli Miyuki Yamauti ◽

Marcus Tolentino Silva ◽

Luciane Cruz Lopes

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

World Health ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Whodas 2.0 ◽

Health Organization

ContextPeople with mental disorders can acquire long-term disabilities, which could impair their functioning and quality of life (QoL), requiring permanent care and social support. Systematic data on QoL and functioning, which could support a better management of these people, were not available.ObjectiveTo analyze the QoL, level of functioning and their association with sociodemographic and clinical factors of people with mental disorders who underwent deinstitutionalization using assisted living facilities.MethodsA Cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2018 and July 2019, through interviews using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) to determine the QoL scores, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) to determine the level of functioning. All adults (≥18 years old) with mental disorders, who underwent deinstitutionalization, users of assisted living facilities and assisted by the Psychosocial Assistance Centers III, in a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were selected. For statistical analysis of the associated factors, Student’s t-test was used for dichotomous variables and ANOVA for polynomial variables. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the association between QoL and functioning scores.ResultsOut of 359 people who underwent deinstitutionalization with mental disorders, 147 met the eligibility criteria. The mean total score for the WHOQOL-BREF was 66.5 ± 13.4 and the mean score for WHODAS 2.0 was 10.4 ± 7.6. An association was found between people who were studying (n = 65.8; 95%CI, 63.5–68.1 vs. n = 73.9; 95%CI, 67.5–80.3; p = 0.04) and better WHOQOL-BREF QoL scores or WHODAS 2.0 levels of functioning (n = 10.9; 95%CI, 9.6–12.2 vs. n = 5.1; 95%CI, 2.5–7.7; p = 0.01). A weak negative correlation (r = 0.41) emerged between higher QoL scores and functioning improvement.ConclusionThis study indicates that the QoL of the sample is associated by their functioning levels, which, in turn, may reflect on their social interactions. Public policies that favor interventions increasing socialization of this population can result in better health outcomes. The QoL and functioning scores provide valuable insights to develop public policies more suited to this population profile.

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Engagement with life among the oldest-old in assisted living facilities: enriching activities and developmental adaptation to physical loss

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x20001488 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Jordan Boeder ◽

Sarah Hwang ◽

Thomas Chan

Keyword(s):

Assisted Living ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Mobility Limitations ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Physical Limitations

Abstract 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 that they desired enriching activities, most often in the form of productive work or community events. Although engaging in enriching activities was a universal desire, residents who experienced more functional limitations had an increased difficulty satisfying this need. Participants believed that activities offered by the ALF primarily served those who are cognitively impaired. ALF residents with severe mobility issues were not able to access more enriching activities outside the ALF compared to those with fewer physical limitations. However, the more physically impaired residents used a range of adaption methods that fit into the selection, optimisation, and compensation framework to overcome barriers to participate in meaningful activities. ALF residents who are cognitively fit but experience severe mobility limitations may be the most in need of enriching activities. To help these residents maintain a high quality of life, ALFs need to provide activities that appeal to residents of varying cognitive abilities and provide interventions to help aid their adaption to physical loss.

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Improving Quality of Life in Long-Term Care

Perspectives on Gerontology ◽

10.1044/gero14.2.37 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 37-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Margaret P. Calkins ◽

Jennifer Brush

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Staff Training ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Term Care ◽

Management Structure

Abstract The entire field of long-term care is under tremendous pressure to change. Traditional environmental approaches based on staff-centric or medical models are no longer considered appropriate in long-term care settings. The new emphasis is on person-centered or self-directed care. This is reflected in settings where people can live comfortably and feel at home, as opposed to feeling like they are in a hospital. Increasingly, nursing homes are working to be more like assisted living facilities, which emphasize privacy, dignity, and choice. These changes affect all aspects of care from structure of governance to staff training to management structure and facility design. This article will cover the issues and the possible solutions to ensuring that long-term care living is more like a home than a hospital.

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Field Testing, Refinement, and Psychometric Evaluation of a New Measure of Quality of Care for Assisted Living

Journal of Nursing Measurement ◽

10.1891/1061-3749.16.1.16 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 16-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marilyn J. Rantz ◽

Myra A. Aud ◽

Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher ◽

David R. Mehr ◽

Gregory F. Petroski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Generalizability Theory ◽

Classical Test Theory ◽

Care Quality ◽

Quality Score ◽

Test Theory ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Total Quality

Field test results are reported for the Observable Indicators of Nursing Home Care Quality Instrument–Assisted Living Version, an instrument designed to measure the quality of care in assisted living facilities after a brief 30-minute walk-through. The OIQ-AL was tested in 207 assisted-living facilities in two states using classical test theory, generalizability theory, and exploratory factor analysis. The 34-item scale has a coherent six-factor structure that conceptually describes the multidimensional concept of care quality in assisted living. The six factors can be logically clustered into process (Homelike and Caring, 21 items) and structure (Access and Choice; Lighting; Plants and Pets; Outdoor Spaces) subscales and for a total quality score. Classical test theory results indicate most subscales and the total quality score from the OIQ-AL have acceptable interrater, test–retest, and strong internal consistency reliabilities. Generalizability theory analyses reveal that dependability of scores from the instrument are strong, particularly by including a second observer who conducts a site visit and independently completes an instrument, or by a single observer conducting two site visits and completing instruments during each visit. Scoring guidelines based on the total sample of observations (N = 358) help guide those who want to use the measure to interpret both subscale and total scores. Content validity was supported by two expert panels of people experienced in the assisted-living field, and a content validity index calculated for the first version of the scale is high (3.43 on a four-point scale). The OIQ-AL gives reliable and valid scores for researchers, and may be useful for consumers, providers, and others interested in measuring quality of care in assisted-living facilities.

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The desirable scale: Weighing social quality of assisted living facilities