TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective optimization with compensation strategies utilized by older adults newly-transitioned to assisted living
AU - Regier, Natalie G.
AU - Parmelee, Patricia A.
N1 - Funding Information:
There is no funding source to report.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objectives: Admission to assisted living (AL) is on the rise in the United States, and adjustment to this new environment can be challenging for older adults. To date, few studies have explored the ways in which older adults may be able to ease the transition to AL by minimizing relocation-related losses. Consequently, we explored the potential for the components of the framework Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) to facilitate successful adjustment to AL. Method: Ninety-one recently-relocated residents of eight assisted living facilities in Alabama and Maryland were interviewed about their transition and adjustment to AL. Using the SOC framework as an analytical lens, directed content analysis identified emergent themes. Results: Fifty-six participants were identified as using SOC-based strategies. Five major themes emerged: Relationships with Others, Health and Wellness, Normalcy, Entertainment, and Growth and Meaning. The theme of Health and Wellness was reported by nearly half of SOC users. Fifty-five percent reported at least one instance of elective selection, 51.8% reported loss-based selection, 48.2% reported optimization, and 41.1% reported compensation. Conclusion: These findings offer insight into strategies that may facilitate successful adaptation to AL and other long-term care settings. This represents an important first step in identifying ways older adults might cope with the different forms of loss and role adjustment that accompany the move from a private residence to assisted living.
AB - Objectives: Admission to assisted living (AL) is on the rise in the United States, and adjustment to this new environment can be challenging for older adults. To date, few studies have explored the ways in which older adults may be able to ease the transition to AL by minimizing relocation-related losses. Consequently, we explored the potential for the components of the framework Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) to facilitate successful adjustment to AL. Method: Ninety-one recently-relocated residents of eight assisted living facilities in Alabama and Maryland were interviewed about their transition and adjustment to AL. Using the SOC framework as an analytical lens, directed content analysis identified emergent themes. Results: Fifty-six participants were identified as using SOC-based strategies. Five major themes emerged: Relationships with Others, Health and Wellness, Normalcy, Entertainment, and Growth and Meaning. The theme of Health and Wellness was reported by nearly half of SOC users. Fifty-five percent reported at least one instance of elective selection, 51.8% reported loss-based selection, 48.2% reported optimization, and 41.1% reported compensation. Conclusion: These findings offer insight into strategies that may facilitate successful adaptation to AL and other long-term care settings. This represents an important first step in identifying ways older adults might cope with the different forms of loss and role adjustment that accompany the move from a private residence to assisted living.
KW - Assisted living
KW - adjustment
KW - coping
KW - goals
KW - selective optimization with compensation
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U2 - 10.1080/13607863.2020.1856776
DO - 10.1080/13607863.2020.1856776
M3 - Article
C2 - 33325267
AN - SCOPUS:85097561267
VL - 25
SP - 1877
EP - 1886
JO - Aging and Mental Health
JF - Aging and Mental Health
SN - 1360-7863
IS - 10
ER -