Family Involvement among Oregon Adult Foster Home Residents, 2018-2023

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted social structures and support systems for vulnerable populations.
• Adult Foster Homes (AFHs) provide community-based care, relying heavily on family involvement for resident well-being.
• Understanding pandemic-related changes in family involvement is crucial for maintaining quality of care in residential settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate shifts in family involvement for residents of Oregon Adult Foster Homes (AFHs) post-COVID-19.
• To analyze the relationship between AFH characteristics, resident demographics, and levels of family engagement.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of repeated cross-sectional data from 2018-2023.
• Survey data collected from 2027 AFH providers regarding family support types and resident characteristics.
• Multivariable linear regression models used to examine associations between family involvement and home/resident factors.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in social visits and help with medical appointments observed in 2021-2022, with partial recovery by 2023.
• Help with medical appointments and outings remained significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
• Rural AFHs and those with higher Medicaid utilization reported lower family involvement across multiple support types.

Conclusions:

• The persistent decline in support for medical appointments and outings may negatively affect resident socioemotional health and healthcare access.
• Assessing the long-term effects of the pandemic on quality of life in community-based care requires nuanced measurement of family involvement.
• Strategies to bolster family engagement are needed to mitigate potential adverse outcomes for AFH residents.