Outcome trajectories for assisted living and nursing facility residents in Oregon

To compare assisted living residents and nursing home residents on outcome trajectories for three outcomes: ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), psychological well-being, and pain and discomfort.

A representative sample of one-third of the census from 38 participating assisted living facilities (N = 605) and two-fifths of the census from 31 participating nursing facilities (N = 610).

A longitudinal design using hierarchical linear models to examine how setting (being in an assisted living setting or in a nursing home) affected growth trajectories for each outcome studied when adjusting for other resident characteristics.

Residents or their proxies were interviewed and chart reviews done at baseline, six months, and one year. All baseline data were collected between August 1995 and May 1996.

We found differences in case mix between assisted living and nursing facility residents but no differences in outcome trajectories for ADLs, psychological well-being, and pain and discomfort. For ADLs and pain and discomfort on average, residents in both settings experienced change over the study period. For psychological well-being, residents experienced no change on average.

The lack of difference in growth trajectories for ADLs, pain and discomfort, and psychological well-being between the two settings was noteworthy.