Assisted Living Resident Characteristics: Differences by Community Size using the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities

Assisted living communities provide long-term care for adults who have functional limitations, but do not require skilled nursing services.  This descriptive study examined differences in resident characteristics and the prevalence of specific health conditions in large and small communities; these findings suggest a few implications for service delivery and policy.  

This is a secondary data analysis study using the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities (NSRCF).  Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine associations between community size, resident demographics, and service needs using Chi-square analyses. All data were weighted in order to account for the complex survey design of the 2010 NSRCF survey.

The NSRCF analytic sample included 8,094 residents nationwide from 2,302 communities having at least four beds.  The analytic sample included 8,094 residents with complete data on the variables examined in this study.  Community size categories were utilized from those defined by the NSRCF including small, medium, and large/X-large.

These findings provide a first-of-kind understanding of resident population sub-groups within communities of different bed-size. Further, the findings indicate that  but also offer implications for stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers interested in exploring the role of assisted living within the U.S. long-term care delivery system. 

Given these key differences in the age distribution, resident mix, and prevalence of chronic health conditions among communities, policymakers should view resident populations in large assisted living communities and smaller settings as distinct groups rather than generalizing these populations into a single category of assisted living residents. 

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership

Learning Objectives:
Differentiate resident population sub-groups within assistant living communities of different bed-sizes.

Keyword(s): Aging, Long-Term Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have earned a PhD in Public Affairs and masters degree in Health Administration. I have been working in the Dept. of Health Administration and Policy at George Mason University for four and half years. In my current position I conduct research, author manuscripts, teach courses, and advise students.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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