Rural Seniors' Perceptions of Quality of Life

Quality of life in assisted living facilities for seniors: A descriptive exploratory study

INTRODUCTION

Promoting individuals' health across different life spans has always been key to a holistic nursing practice. Seniors are a diverse population who go through many physical and mental changes as they age. During the last decade, assisted living facilities (ALFs) have dramatically increased in numbers to provide care and living services in a home-like environment.

AIM

The aim of this descriptive exploratory study was to explore the quality of life as perceived by seniors who reside in assisted living facilities (ALFs).

DESIGN

This study utilized a descriptive exploratory design to investigate the quality of life of seniors living in ALFs.

METHODS

Seventeen residents from two ALFs were interviewed to gather their perspectives on the quality of their lives while living in an ALF. The interviews were conducted by the researcher and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three major themes surfaced from residents' descriptions: 'physical environment', 'social environment' and 'home-like atmosphere'. The quality of life in ALFs was found to be predominantly an outcome of the exchange between the personal capability of residents to adapt to changes and the capacity of the facility to meet residents' diverse needs.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Participants who discussed their quality of life in ALFs provided profound insights into this aspect of their lives. The findings from this study can potentially enlighten ALF stakeholders and enhance the quality of life for seniors residing in these facilities.

Neighbourhood influences on participation in activities among older adults with chronic health conditions

We examined the relationships between perceptions of neighbourhood characteristics and satisfaction with participation in everyday activities among 248 older adults with chronic health conditions in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We used a cross-sectional survey to collect data regarding neighbourhood characteristics, social support, social network size, and individual characteristics. Path analysis showed that fewer neighbourhood problems directly predict higher levels of satisfaction with participation. Neighbourhood cohesion indirectly predicts participation by predicting social support, which predicts participation. Neighbourhood safety indirectly predicts participation by predicting increased social cohesion and neighbourhood amenities may influence participation similarly. Changes to neighbourhood characteristics have the potential to facilitate participation in daily activities for older adults with chronic health conditions.