Limiting and Promoting Resident Self-Care in Assisted Living

Assisted living (AL) residents often manage multiple chronic conditions, functional and/or cognitive decline along with their individual needs and preferences for a full life. Although residents participate in their own care, little is known about their self-care activities and how to support them. This analysis focuses on residents' self-care and theorizing the dynamic, socially embedded process of negotiating self-care.

We analyze data from a grounded theory study informed by the Convoys of Care model. Participants included 50 focal residents and 169 paid and unpaid convoy members in eight AL homes; each resident convoy was followed up for 2 years. Data collection included participant observation, interviews, and resident record review.

To the extent possible, most AL residents were involved in self-care related to activities of daily living, health promotion, and social, emotional, and mental well-being. Residents and care partners engaged in a dynamic process of limiting and promoting self-care activities. Multiple factors influenced self-care, including residents' past self-care behaviors, caregiver fear and availability, and the availability of services and supports.

Strategies for promoting self-care must involve residents and care partners and include convoy education in collaborative goal-setting, prioritizing care that supports the goals, and putting resources in place to support goal achievement.