Resident-centered care in assisted living.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Sociology of Aging

Background:

• Assisted living (AL) facilities are a key component of long-term care.
• Understanding resident experiences within AL is crucial for improving care quality.
• Factors influencing autonomy, care access, and community integration require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how assisted living settings foster or impede resident choice, access to necessary care, and community belonging.
• To identify specific program and site features that shape resident experiences in assisted living.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with 396 residents across 20 assisted living facilities.
• Interviews also included program staff and administrators to provide a comprehensive perspective.
• Analysis focused on understanding facilitators and barriers to resident autonomy, care, and community.

Main Results:

• Residents reported high levels of independence but frequently experienced unmet health and long-term care needs.
• Participation in meaningful activities and community life was often limited for residents.
• Assisted living program and site characteristics were found to significantly influence resident autonomy and community involvement.

Conclusions:

• Assisted living facility design and programming play a critical role in resident well-being.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing community integration and ensuring access to needed health and long-term care.
• Supporting resident independence while addressing care gaps is essential for quality assisted living.