HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fonda, S. J. Articles by Maddox, G. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fonda, S. J. Articles by Maddox, G. L.

Patterns in Functioning Among Residents of an Affordable Assisted Living Housing Facility

^a New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA
^b Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and School of Nursing and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
^c Center for Study of Aging and Human Development, Long Term Care Resources Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Correspondence: Stephanie J. Fonda, PhD, New England Research Institutes (NERI), 9 Galen St., Watertown, MA 02472. E-mail: sfonda{at}neri.org.

Decision Editor: Laurence G. Branch, PhD

Purpose: This is the second article reporting a project that (a) characterized the longitudinal functional patterns of residents in an affordable, assisted living housing (ALH) milieu for low-income people and (b) compared the ALH residents' functional patterns with those for similarly low-income, community-dwelling people. Design and Methods: Functioning was defined as the ability to perform activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living and respondents' competing risks such as death and institutionalization. The comparison samples were selected from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study. The analyses involved description of functional patterns and multinomial logit models to assess the relative likelihood that study participants experienced each pattern of functioning and competing risks. Results: About 42.4% of the ALH residents had stable high functioning, 32.9% deteriorated (e.g., had increased impairment, institutionalization, death), 3% improved in functioning, 6% exhibited moderate to severe impairment throughout the study, and the remainder returned to the community. Comparison of the ALH residents' functional patterns with those of the community-dwelling respondents indicated that the ALH residents' patterns generally were similar and in some ways better, adjusting for social–demographic factors and health; for example, the ALH residents were no different (statistically) in terms of improvement, decline, and death, but they were more likely to have stable high functioning. Implications: The results suggest that the affordable ALH milieu enabled low-income residents to maintain function or cope well with functional decline. The comparison with community-dwelling participants provides evidence that the affordable ALH milieu was comparatively beneficial.

Key Words: Functional patterns • Long-term care • Longitudinal assessment • Transition

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. A. Giuliani, A. L. Gruber-Baldini, N. S. Park, L. A. Schrodt, F. Rokoske, P. D. Sloane, and S. Zimmerman Physical Performance Characteristics of Assisted Living Residents and Risk for Adverse Health Outcomes Gerontologist, April 1, 2008; 48(2): 203 - 212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Kane, J. Chan, and R. L. Kane Assisted Living Literature Through May 2004: Taking Stock Gerontologist, December 1, 2007; 47(suppl_1): 125 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Braungart Fauth, S. H. Zarit, B. Malmberg, and B. Johansson Physical, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Variables From the Disablement Process Model Predict Patterns of Independence and the Transition Into Disability for the Oldest-Old Gerontologist, October 1, 2007; 47(5): 613 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Street, S. Burge, J. Quadagno, and A. Barrett The Salience of Social Relationships for Resident Well-Being in Assisted Living J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2007; 62(2): S129 - S134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Evans and R. C. Bates Knowledge of Breast Self-Examination and Other Determinants' Relationship on the Self-Rated Health of Elderly Women Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, September 1, 2005; 21(5): 402 - 412. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. J. Burdick, A. Rosenblatt, Q. M. Samus, C. Steele, A. Baker, M. Harper, L. Mayer, J. Brandt, P. Rabins, and C. G. Lyketsos Predictors of Functional Impairment in Residents of Assisted-Living Facilities: The Maryland Assisted Living Study J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., February 1, 2005; 60(2): 258 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Weisman, C. Kovach, and S. E. Cashin Differences in dementia services and settings across place type and regions American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, September 1, 2004; 19(5): 291 - 298. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. C. Carder and M. Hernandez Consumer Discourse in Assisted Living J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2004; 59(2): S58 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Cutchin, S. V. Owen, and P.-F. J. Chang Becoming "at Home" in Assisted Living Residences: Exploring Place Integration Processes J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2003; 58(4): S234 - 243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]