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Wright, J. (2008). Searching one’s self: the autoethnography of a nurse teacher. Journal of Research in Nursing, 13(4), Retrieved from http://jrn.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/13/4/338 doi: 10.1177/1744987107088046

This article is an autoethnography of Jane Wright’s life as a nurse educator.  The article then defines autoethnography as,” Charmaz (2006), in an issue of the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography devoted entirely to autoethnography, states more simply that autoethnography concentrated on the researcher’s own previous or present experience(As qouted from Wright 2008 p. 338).” Wright also comments on autoethnography:  ”I suggest that by researching ourselves we can learn how our beliefs, attitudes and values about health, illness and care have been constructed. We can perhaps imagine how others have developed theirs and appreciate that others perspectives may be as valid as our own.” (2008)  Wright then goes on to explain the importance of autoethnography and also criticisms of the research method.  In her Autoethnography, Wright explains why she became a nurse and her experiences within the nursing field.

Williams, K, & Warren, C. (2009). Communication in assisted living. Journal of Aging Studies, 23. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6W51-4TKXD75-1-1&_cdi=6557&_user=3569841&_pii=S0890406508000844&_orig=search&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2009&_sk=999769998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkzk&_valck=1&md5=4b74c957c61527358aa8d60f81ee54e3&ie=/sdarticle.pdf

This article researched communication between the staff and residents at an assisted living facility.  The article also summarizes what living in an assisted living facility is like. Also summarizing communication among residents, “local culture mirrors that of the larger society, with different patterns of communication attributed to women and men: the sociability of the women, and the dominance of the male“board of directors.” The women are seen by both staff and other residents as more likely to engage in activities and gossip, while the selfsegregating men talk of sports and politics, and then retreat to solitary activity” (p. 26 2009).  The article also states that assisted living facilities should encourage their residents and help maintain their self control. Debra Dobb states of Assisted Living Facilities, “A better understanding can result in more empathetic staff and positively affect the type of care they provide: Social scientists doing ethnographic work in long term care settings could benefit the field by….educating staff on how to seek social explanations for residents’ behaviors(As quoted from Williams &Warren 2009 p. 35).”

Weech-Maldonado, R, Shea, D, & Elmendorf, K. (2007). Long-term care providers and their perceptions of the external environment: rural versus urban differences. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 26(78), Retrieved from http://jag.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/26/1/78 doi: 10.1177/0733464806296145

“Assisted living is the fastest growing segment of long-term care. Despite its rapid growth, a recent national study indicates that assisted living is still not a complete substitute for nursing home care, especially in rural areas (Hawes,Rose, & Phillips, 1999). First, assisted living is often not affordable for moderate- and lower-income elderly, and in most states, Medicaid does not cover assisted living. Second, people with functional decline have limited access to assisted living. The majority of the facilities offer little assistance beyond aid with medications and basic personal care. In addition, most donot accommodate individuals with severe physical disabilities or cognitive impairments (p.81 2007).” ”A study commissioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suggests that nursing homes would need to hire an additional 77,000 to 137,000 registered nurses (RNs) to achieve recommended staffing levels (Abt Associates, 2001). An American Nurses Association’s survey estimated that the nursing vacancy rate for NHs and HHAs was 19% and 13%, respectively (Cohen-Mansfield, 1997). There are also significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining trained nursing staff in rural locations. Barriers for nurses in rural areas include lower wages, lack of professional growth opportunities, and lifestyle differences when compared to urban communities (Stern, 2001 as qouted from Week-Maldonado 2007).” “Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a clear link between quality and staffing in acute and long-term care settings(Abt Associates, 2001; Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, & Silver, 2002; Eaton, 2000; Weech-Maldonado, Meret-Hanke, Neff, & Mor, 2004),yet nursing homes fall far below the staffing levels indicated by the quality studies (Abt Associates, 2001). High nurse staffing turnover contributes to the nursing shortages and high labor costs of nursing homes(2007).”

Castle, N.G., & Engberg, J. (2007). The Influence of staffing characteristics on quality of care in nursing homes. Health Services Research, Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2254574/ doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00704.x.

This article adresses what incluences quality of care in an Assisted Living facility. “Quality of care was influenced, to some degree, by all of these staffing characteristics. However, the estimated interaction effects indicated that achieving higher quality was dependent on having more than one favorable staffing characteristic—the effect of quality was larger than the sum of the independent effects of each favorable staffing characteristic(2007).” “For RNs, staffing levels are also important, with low staffing associated with lower quality; whereas, for NAs, stability is also important, with low stability associated with lower quality(2007).”

Ball, M.M., Lepore, M.L., Perkins, M.M., Hollingsworth, C., & Sweatman, M. (2009). “They are the reason i come to work”: the meaning of resident- staff relationships in assisted living. Journal of Aging Studies, 23(1), Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W51-4TKXD75-2&_user=3569841&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2009&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1210903812&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000060884&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=3569841&md5=87736721aa814edae02baeb346698fd8 doi: 10.1016/j.jaging.2007.09.006

  ”Multiple DCW and resident factors influenced: the type of DCW-resident relationships; the strategies DCWs used to manage relationships and provide care; care outcomes; and the ultimate components of meaning. Strategies, relationship types, care outcomes, and meanings were dynamic and interactive. Whether relationships with residents led to job satisfaction and retention depended on the degree to which workers were able to affirm their values for helping elders, develop close affective ties, engage in positive social interactions, complete necessary care tasks and improve residents’ quality of life, maintain a continuous identity, and redefine their job status(2009).”

Peterson, S. (2005). Developing risk-management protocols in assisted living: assisted living has its own litigation traps for the unwary. Nursing Homes: Long Term Care Management , 54(11), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=11&sid=73e293b6-662d-40bd-9644-a9cf3e63eaa3%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=c8h&AN=2009095383

This article reviews what is identified as necessary to have a successful assisted living facility.  “Back in the mid-1990s, assisted living trade organizations proposed best practices and risk-limiting protocols for the industry. The guidelines covered four main areas: services, environment, consumer protections (including resident rights, contracts, and risk negotiation), and management responsibilities. These still serve as the I basis for risk-management protocols in the current assisted living environment(2005).”

Spellbring, AM, & Ryan, JW. (2003). Medication administration by unlicensed caregivers: a model program. Journal of Gereontological Nursing, 29(6), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=11&sid=73e293b6-662d-40bd-9644-a9cf3e63eaa3%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=c8h&AN=2003104511#db=c8h&AN=2003104511

This article focuses on a study that was preformed to identify what was needed to increase the efficiency of medication administration within Assisted Living Facilities from non-educated caregivers.

Celso, BG, Ebener , DJ, & Burkhead , EJ. (2003). Humor coping, health status, and life satisfaction among older adults residing in assisted living facilities. Aging and Mental Health, 7(6), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=11&sid=73e293b6-662d-40bd-9644-a9cf3e63eaa3%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=c8h&AN=2004138148

This article shows a direct correlation between humor and a better health status.  Having a positive attitude keeps the residents in Assisted living facilities healthier.

Stefanacci, RG, & Podrazik, PM. (2005). Assisted living facilities: optimizing outcomes.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53(3), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=11&sid=73e293b6-662d-40bd-9644-a9cf3e63eaa3%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=c8h&AN=2005076192#db=c8h&AN=2005076192

“Staff working on-site, providing 24-hour coverage, should be sufficient in numbers and experience to meet the ongoing needs of the residents. Staff should be knowledgeable about basic changes in aging, aging drug pharmacology, falls prevention, incontinence care, ADL skills, communication techniques, dementia care, and recognition of acute illness/delirium. In addition, staffing levels and expertise should be discussed with all potential ALF residents to assist in the initial choice of ALF. To provide the most effective care, staff working daily with persons requiring assistance should have a working knowledge of normal aging and common problems seen in aging. Staff must be able to assist persons in such a way that whatever residual independent capabilities the residents are not lost through learned helplessness. Also, staff must be able to discern when significant changes have occurred that require evaluation by qualified professionals(2005).”

 Lima , JC, Miller, SC, & Shield, RR. (2009). Palliative and hospice care in assisted living: reality or wishful thinking?. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 23(1-2), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=11&sid=73e293b6-662d-40bd-9644-a9cf3e63eaa3%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=c8h&AN=2010264224

This article focuses on the availability of Hospice services to residents in assisted living facilities.  Also adressed is the knowledge of the services provided by the staff and what the staff themselves can give to the residents.