A report on the state of Texas’ assisted living communities found areas for improvement, but overall, residents said they were satisfied with the quality of their communities, including their ability to maintain their independence and rights as residents and their communities’ efforts to protect their mental and physical health.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission recently released the results of a large survey of assisted living communities, residents and long-term care ombudsmen. The study was mandated by the state legislature in 2021 to assess resident quality of life and care in at least 30% of the Lone Star State’s 1,884 assisted living communities.
The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long-Term Care in 2022 conducted on-site reviews of resident care and interviewed residents, staff members and long-term care ombudsmen at 517 communities, as well as evaluated provider policies, preventable occurrences and adverse outcomes.
Most residents rated their health as good or excellent (77.6%) and said their health had improved (37.9%) or had not changed (41%) since they moved into their communities. The majority of respondents (87.3%) also reported being satisfied with their care, with care in rural communities slightly higher (90.3%) than satisfaction with urban communities (86.1%).
Satisfaction with quality of life in assisted living communities in the state also was high, at 90.7%. Researchers reported a “strong correlation” between resident satisfaction with healthcare services and satisfaction with overall experience in an assisted living community In addition, 95.4% said they felt safe and secure in their community.
The Texas Assisted Living Association said it “couldn’t be happier” with the results.
“This state-authored report is great confirmation of what we’ve heard from residents and families for a long time,” TALA President and CEO Diana Martinez told McKnight’s Senior Living. “Assisted living communities provide care, entertainment, socialization and safety to enjoy life.”
The study also noted that the majority of residents in the surveyed communities did not have dementia (72.7%) or other cognitive impairment (77.2%), and most participants (72.7%) said they did not have depression or anxiety (71.6%).
Community staff members reported that most residents (93.8%) are assessed for falls risk at admission. Gait ability was noted as the most common reason (83%) for resident falls, and most staff members (99.2%) are trained in resident falls upon hire, according to the study authors. Looking at a 30-day timeframe, the report noted that most residents had not fallen (89.7%) in that time.
Room for improvement
In addition to surveys, the investigators reported conducting extensive research into policies and procedures at 23 assisted living communities. They noted that not all communities provided written policies in every area, but they found no concerns related to residents’ mental, physical or psychosocial well-being.
The researchers pointed out areas for improvement, including medication errors, the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications, falls, the placement of residents who have dementia in locked units, and healthcare-acquired infections.
Almost half of the communities (45.3%) reported that they had identified residents appropriate for a gradual dose reduction in antipsychotic medication, but only 37.7% said they had initiated gradual dose reductions for residents who might benefit from it.
The report said that additional research is needed so that recommendations specific to falls prevention, placing residents who have dementia in locked units for safety, the appropriate use of antibiotics and infection rates in assisted living communities can be made.
