FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IS THE KEY: INFORMAL CARE IN ASSISTED LIVING

This paper presents findings from a 5-year longitudinal qualitative study involving 50 residents and their informal and formal care network members (n= 225) in eight diverse assisted living (AL) communities in the southern US. Previous analysis of data from four settings identified variability in informal care and generated a typology of care patterns. Here, we expand this analysis to examine data from all eight settings and focus on outcomes. We ask: What implications do informal care patterns have for residents and their care providers? Findings show that the quality and quantity of informal care influences AL residents’ ability to age in place, and directly and indirectly influences their overall care quality and well-being. Informal care can influence the well-being and quality of life of those providing it and also can impact direct care workers’ work satisfaction and perceptions of care quality. Findings have implications for improving care and care relationships.