There is an importance placed on health, productivity and successful aging since people are living longer. Successful aging encompasses maintaining social contacts and being involved in leisure activities. Research has shown that participation in activities results in a positive impact in many qualities of life measures. There is a relationship between social engagement and wellbeing in older people living in assisted living facilities that researchers are now studying. As individuals age, physical and cognitive functions begin to decline, and social networks become narrower. Since social relationships are associated with health, the narrowing of social networks in aging can be problematic and lead to isolation, depression and lower quality of life. To reduce the narrowing of social networks in assisted living facilities, there are departments dedicated to activities that focus on physical and cognitive functions and social relationships. Through leisure activities, communities focus on health promoting behaviors so that social relationships and health can be improved.
In their article Social Relationships, Leisure Activity and Health in Older Adults (Chang et al., 2014), the researchers examined how the link between social relationships and health in older age are influenced by leisure activities. Through an equation modeling analysis using data from the 2006 and 2010 U.S. Health and Retirement Study, the researchers assessed data on 2,965 older participants to determine if leisure activities mediated the link between social relationships and health. The results indicated that leisure activities do mediate the connection between social relationships and health in older age. Positive social relationships were associated with increased involvement in leisure activities and increased involvement in leisure activities was associated with improved health. The descriptive statistics conclude that the frequency of engaging in leisure activities show a decrease in the levels of depressive symptoms. The hypothesis was confirmed, demonstrating that participants with higher quality social relationships might be motivated to engage in health promoting behaviors such as leisure activities.
As the elderly population is increasing, interventions are needed to ensure quality of life as they enter the independent and assisted living communities. Transitioning into these communities can significantly affect quality of life. Based on activity and continuity theories, participation in activities can be essential for psychological health and wellbeing. Winstead and colleagues (2014), evaluate the impact of participation in discretionary activities on life satisfaction, social isolation, and loneliness using data from adults participating in their eight-week activity intervention program. Those who participated in activities throughout the eight-week period reported greater life satisfaction and lower social isolation compared to non-participants. Those in the participating group reported participating in more activities and spent an hour more per week in activities offered through their community facility three months after the intervention concluded. Results indicate that there was a connection between activity participation and greater life satisfaction and lower levels of loneliness. The results support previous findings that indicate quality of life increases with participation in activities. Residents who believed they were less healthy had greater life satisfaction when they participated. The study validates previous findings that claim participation in social activities predict life satisfaction.
Continuous active participation in activities can promote quality of life. Horowitz and Vanner (2010), explored the relationship between active engagement in social, leisure and instrumental activities and quality of life for older adults who are 65 and older residing in assisted living facilities. One hundred and thirty-one residents from assisted living facilities were interviewed using a 55-Item Activity Checklist, Life Satisfaction Index and demographic questions. Their results support the hypothesis that there were positive relationships between the percent of activity, life satisfaction and quality of life. Results indicated that there were correlations between retained engagement in leisure, social and instrumental activities and life satisfaction for qualities of life including physical and cognitive functioning as well as general health and wellbeing. The data supports the exploration of activity programs that promote resident engagement in assisted living facilities in different activities to maintain physical and cognitive abilities and manage decline. This study did claim that there is limited information about the population of residents in assisted living facilities and that more research should be done on residents living in these communities.
The next article explores social engagement and its relationship to the psychological wellbeing of older adults that live in assisted living facilities (Park, 2009). The purpose of her study was to examine several areas of social engagement in residents in assisted living facilities and the relationship of social engagement to life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Eighty-two residents across eights assisted living facilities were interviewed and their data indicated that assisted living facilities can promote resident’s wellbeing by encouraging them to develop relationships with residents and staff and by designing enjoyable mealtimes. Social engagement is defined as making social and emotional connections with others and their community. It is an important component that influences health and wellbeing for the elderly. Park (2009), refers to research that has documented social engagement effects on wellbeing which include decreased mortality rates, slowing of functional decline, increased levels of happiness and quality if life, fewer symptoms of depression and lower risk of cognitive impairment. In assisted living facilities, social engagement can be seen through activity participation, interactions with family and staff, and enjoyable mealtimes.
Discussion
Assisted living facilities promotes aging in place by providing housing and individualized care services for the elderly. As life expectancy has increased, the number of people reaching advanced ages has also increased as well as chronic illnesses, impairments, disability, family structure, retirement and independence perceptions. These aging adults are seeking personalized long-term care environments which are described as assisted living facilities. More aging adults and families are seeking this kind of supportive housing in order to preserve their independence and obtain personal care in a facility that is safe and has a home like essence. By providing a social climate that encourages active social engagement, there is a connection with better quality of care and the resident’s quality of life.
Engagement in social, physical and cognitive activities is associated with greater life satisfaction and mental and physical health which support functional capabilities. Activities are an important component to assisted living communities because they encourage the residents to participate in a social environment where they can develop relationships and improve their wellbeing. As an activities intern at an assisted living retirement community, I have noticed the importance of social and physical activities on my residents. Some of the activities that I do with my residents include daily exercise, trivia, bingo, movie watching and daily strolls around the building or outside. There are times when entertainers come to perform such as hula dancers or singers that perform jazz, folk or music from the 40’s to the 60’s. These activities all involve socialization and involve some physical or cognitive components. One day I had a resident refuse to attend the jazz entertainment concert but convinced her to observe for a brief moment and if she did not like it, that she could leave. The jazz music was well known and pieces from the resident’s young adulthood years were played. The resident who had initially refused was singing along, tapping her foot and swaying her cane to the music. She then thanked me for convincing her to come because she was reminiscing, and it had improved her attitude. She also ran into another resident she had not seen in a while and began conversing with her. Based on the research above, and observations from activities that I have been a part of, resident socialization is important for wellbeing and quality of life.
Mealtimes provide opportunities for residents to socialize with one another as well as with staff for an extended amount of time regularly. Part of the responsibilities of an activities intern is to keep the resident’s company in “Dining with Friends,†which is where interns and activities staff socialize and dine with the residents every day during lunch and dinner. Park’s (2009) article talks about how enjoyment of mealtimes was related to low symptoms of depression. Residents that perceive staff and other residents as friendly tend to report higher life satisfaction. Conversations about the resident’s life or memories are brought up and they have the chance not only to talk about their life but to also remember as well as share with others. Some of the resident’s cognitive functions are declining and they tend to repeat information or stories that they have previously told. I have noticed that the repetition of stories gives residents a chance to connect and for staff and other residents to ask more about their life and stories. There have been residents who begin to sing music from when they were younger such as “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,†and then others follow and sing along as well. These observations show how mealtime socialization impacts the wellbeing of residents in continuing care communities.
As an activities intern, I have been able to take part in the activities with the residents and have even led some of the group activities including Trivia, Bingo and morning exercise. I have observed that resident attitudes sometimes change during activities or after socializing and interacting with other residents or staff. Based on the concluded research and studies above, the interactions that occur within residents and also with staff are crucial for healthy and successful aging. During my time at the internship, there have also been moments where one on one socialization between residents and activities interns occurs. In this time, I was able to connect with the resident with undivided attention and we were able to share more stories and information than if we were in the group setting. One resident in particular enjoyed when staff would socialize with her because her family lived so far away and she would inform us that her day would improve when there was that one on one interaction since there were times she was unable to make it to activities. Socialization and activities that involve socialization play an important role in daily living for our residents.