Transitions to Assisted Living: A Pilot Study of Residents’ Occupational Perspectives

ABSTRACT

Assisted living is one of the fastest growing housing options in the United States with over one million older persons transitioning to assisted living facilities. This pilot study used mixed methods to explore the perspectives of 10 older persons who transitioned to an assisted living facility. A semistructured interview, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the RAND 36-Item Health Survey (RAND 36) were used for data collection. This study employed a novel use of the COPM as a test of satisfaction with role engagement instead of a measure of pre- and postintervention role performance and satisfaction. Results suggest occupational integrity, role maintenance; choice and satisfaction with role performance may be related to successful transition and suggest a potential role for occupational therapists in facilitating residents’ adjustment to assisted living.

KEYWORDS. :

• occupational therapy
• assisted living
• aging in place
• adjustment
• older persons
• choice

APPENDIX

TABLE 1  Participant Demographics

TABLE 2.  RAND 36 Results

TABLE 3.  Perception of Adjustment vs. COPM