Successful Aging Among Assisted Living Community Older Adults

AbstractPurpose: This study investigated the suitability of using the Successful Aging Inventory (SAI) in an effort to describe successful aging among older adults currently living in assisted living communities (ALCs) and to further assess some of the characteristics of successful aging in this group.Design: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research design. Recruitment garnered 200 participants 65 years of age or older from eight ALCs in North Carolina.Methods: Screening was done using the Mini-Cog; instrumentation was composed of the SAI, Purpose in Life Test, Life Satisfaction Inventory-A, and Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.Findings: Among the differences were those influenced by gender, with females tending to score higher on successful aging (p Conclusions: This research demonstrated that successful aging does exist in ALC residents.Clinical Relevance: The size of the older adult population will proliferate dramatically during the next two decades. Many of these individuals will find themselves living in ALCs; therefore, it is important to continue to strive to understand what successful aging looks like in these individuals in order to adopt meaningful practices and interventions aimed at eliciting successful aging responses in those living in these communities.Key wordsSuccessful aging, assisted living community, elderly, older adults, psychometric measurement, quality of life, residential care, Successful Aging InventorySuccessful aging has been explored by numerous researchers (Bowling, 2006; Crowther, Parker, Achenbaum, Larimore, & Koenig, 2002; Dickens, Richards, Greaves, & Campbell, 2011; Ferri, James, & Pruchno, 2009; Flood, 2009; Jopp & Hertzog, 2010; Mortimer, Ward, & Winefield, 2008; Reichstadt, Depp, Palinkas, Folsom, & Jeste, 2007; Rowe & Khan, 1998; Vaillant & Mukamal, 2001). Daily leisure activities during old age have been investigated, and these have utilized constructs including successful aging, an engaged lifestyle, and prevention of age-related cognitive decline (Jopp & Hertzog, 2010). In addition to adding to our appreciation and understanding of individual values, these studies assist us in formulating appropriate and individualized interventions, and may have clinical, architectural, and diagnostic value (Jopp & Hertzog, 2010). Understanding what successful aging looks like in the older adult (specifically the older adult assisted living resident) is invaluable for researchers and healthcare providers. The number of U.S. older adults will increase dramatically from 2010 to 2030 (the "boomer" generation began turning 65 in 2011; Caffrey, Sengupta, Moss, HarrisKojetin, & Valverde, 2011). In the United States alone, the older population of 2030 is expected to be more than double that of 2000. This more than twofold increase represents a surge from 35 million to 72 million, roughly 20% of the U.S. population (DHHS, 2011, September 1).It is reasonable to expect that, along with increasing life expectancy and greater incidences of chronic illnesses, many older adults will find themselves requiring assistance with self-care and activities of daily living (ADLs) and that the number of assisted living community (ALC) residents will markedly increase. Thus, it is essential to better understand successful aging in these individuals in order to tailor and adopt meaningful practices and interventions to enhance successful aging in this population.State of KnowledgeA universal method for measuring or assessing successful aging has not been accepted, nor does there appear to be a consensus regarding its definition (Ferri, James, & Pruchno, 2009; Flood, 2009). Furthermore, there has been minimal research conducted with those living in ALCs. Consequently, little is known regarding successful aging in this population. This study places emphasis on a greater understanding of successful aging in this unique group of individuals. …