(P65) Factors that Influence Satisfaction with Activities in Assisted Living Residents

Introduction/

Objective: Engagement in activities is important for maintaining physical function and has been associated with improved quality of life among residents in assisted living. Numerous factors can influence residents’ satisfaction with activities including cognition, functional abilities, health status, and demographic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine whether resident factors such as age, gender, race, function, comorbidities, pain, behavioral symptoms, and quality of interactions with staff were associated with residents’ satisfaction with activities in assisted living.

Design/Methodology: This was a secondary analysis using baseline data from the randomized controlled pragmatic trial, Function Focused Care for Assisted Living Using the Evidence Integration Triangle (FFC-AL-EIT). Assisted living residents were eligible for the study if they were 65 years or older, spoke English, lived in a participating setting, and were able to recall at least one of three words based on the Mini-Cog. Residents were excluded if they were enrolled in hospice. Satisfaction with activities was evaluated using a subscale of the Resident Satisfaction Index. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sample characteristics. Linear regression analysis was used to examine resident factors associated with satisfaction with activities.

Results: A total of 794 residents from 85 assisted living settings across three states were included in the sample. The majority of the participants were female (n = 561, 71%) and White (n = 771, 97%). The mean age of participants was 89.48 (SD = 7.43) years old. Most participants had cognitive impairment with a mean score of 15.9 (SD = 4.7) on the Saint Louis University Mental Status exam (SLUMS). On average, residents reported a score of 4.1 (SD=1.34) out of 5 possible points on the satisfaction with activities subscale. Results from the linear regression model showed significant associations between satisfaction with activities and gender (B=.47, p<.001), pain (B=-.259, p<.05), and quality of interactions between residents and staff (B=.093, p<.05). In particular, those residents who reported higher satisfaction with activities were more likely to be female, have less pain, and have more positive quality interactions with staff. The regression model only explained 7.2% of the variance in satisfaction with activities.

Conclusion/

Discussion: Findings from this study suggest that factors such as gender, pain, and interactions with staff influence residents’ satisfaction with activities. Other factors including age, race, cognition, behavioral symptoms, and physical function were not related to residents’ satisfaction with activities. Ongoing research is needed to evaluate aspects of the physical and social environment that may be modified to increase residents’ satisfaction with and engagement in activities in assisted living.