The impact of transitioning to an assisted living facility from the perspectives of family caregiver

The purpose of this study was to explore the decision making of family caregivers who were considering transitioning an older adult family member from independent living to an assisted living facility (ALF). A total of 15 caregivers were interviewed; 12 (80%) decided to place the older adult in an ALF and 3 (20%) decided not to do so. This study found that the decision to place an older adult in an ALF was primarily due to the declining health of the older adult and safety concerns. All of the twelve caregivers who placed their family member in an ALF reported that they continued to be involved in caregiving after placement. Caregiver support groups and self-care were two interventions that participants described as most effective to support them during their caregiver experience. More research is needed on how to support family caregivers who are considering placement in an ALF