Health Outcomes From Assisted Living Facilities: A Cohort Study of a Primary Care Practice

The population of older adults residing in assisted living facilities (ALF) in the United States is growing, yet health data about this population is relatively sparse. We aimed to compare health outcomes of ALF residents with those of age- and sex-matched community dwelling adults in a retrospective cohort study of 808 older adults. Linear regression analyses were conducted to describe the relationship between ALF residency and our outcomes of hospitalizations within 1 year of the index date (earliest recorded date in the ALF), 30-day rehospitalization following index hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits, and mortality at 1 year. Hospitalizations were significantly greater for ALF residents than for controls. The odds of death for ALF residents were approximately twice that of controls. Falls and ED visits were also significantly greater for ALF residents. The ALF population requires targeted geriatric and primary care models if we are to effectively meet the needs of this growing population.