By Carol Church, Writer, Family Album
Reviewed by Linda Bobroff, PhD, RD, LD/N, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
This post is in honor of National Assisted Living Week (September 7-14).
When I was a young teen, I spent many hours volunteering as a “candystriper” in a nursing home in my community.
I refilled a lot of pitchers, watered plants, and cleared away lunch trays, but my favorite task was helping with activities, like crafts, sing-alongs, games, or pet therapy. Sometimes we even painted residents’ nails—something I actually wasn’t very good at, but I don’t remember getting any complaints.
These simple but enjoyable activities seemed to brighten residents’ days. So I wasn’t surprised to learn that a recent study looking at resident satisfaction at more than 150 nursing homes found that the number of staff, especially staff who lead residents in recreational activities, is really important.
Residents were asked about their general mood, how happy and engaged they felt with their surroundings, and whether they felt taken care of, listened to, and respected by staff. These quality of life indicators were examined to see how they correlated with factors like staffing numbers, type of staff, size and kind of facility, and the characteristics of those who lived there.
Not surprisingly, residents reported better quality of life in nursing homes with more staff. In particular, having more activities staff and more registered nurses at the facility improved quality of life and daily enjoyment. Nursing home residents also enjoyed better quality of life in facilities that were smaller and that were operated by non-profits, rather than those operated for profit. The mix of residents also made a difference: nursing homes whose residents had less severe needs and fewer limitations were rated more positively. However, this result may be difficult to act upon, except by ensuring that staff is not overburdened by the needs of less able residents.
If you are facing the decision about where a loved one in need of care would be most content and well cared for, you might consider this information when selecting a facility. For more on how to choose a long-term care facility, see the resources in Further Reading.
(Photo credit: UF/IFAS file photo.)
Further Reading
Nursing Homes: Making the Right Choice
Tools to Help You Choose a Good Nursing Home
References:
Shippee, T. P., Hong, H., Henning-Smith, C., & Kane, R. L. (2014). Longitudinal changes in nursing home resident-reported quality of life: The role of facility characteristics. Reseach on Aging, 1-26, doi: 10.1177/0164027514545975
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