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This book explores key factors long-term care recipients have identified as impacting their quality of life and offers programmatic and policy recommendations to enhance well-being within long-term care communities. Leadership and staff who work in nursing homes and other residential care communities serve as gatekeepers to resident well-being, often without recognizing how residents' quality of life is impacted by their decision-making. This book takes a life domain approach to build on research-based studies that document key drivers of care recipients' quality of life, including relationships, autonomy and respect, activities and meals, environment, and care. Using a framework that enhances understanding of resident quality of life, it outlines practical, programmatic, and policy suggestions for long-term care stakeholders, such as administrators, managers, front-line staff, family members, and policy-makers, whose directives and actions impact the lived experience of long-term care residents. As such, this book serves as a roadmap for leaders and managers of long-term care communities, along with policymakers who regulate health and human services, to best structure care environments to maximize quality of life and well-being for long-term care recipients. 

Quality of Life and Well-Being for Residents in Long-Term Care Communities: Perspectives on Policies and Practices

Table of Contents
1  Quality of Life in Long-Term Care1.1  Aging Demographics Across the Globe1.2  Defining "Good" Quality of Life1.3  Long-Term Care Communities1.4  The Decision to Move into a Long-Term Care Community 1.5  Influence of Quality of Life on Other Metrics1.6  Enhancing Resident Quality of Life1.7  Quality of Care vs. Quality of Life1.8  Balance Between Safety and Autonomy1.9  Resident-Defined Quality of Life1.10  Quality of Life Domains
2  Resident Autonomy, Dignity, and Respect2.1  Respect2.2  Autonomy2.3  Dignity2.4  Sense of Purpose2.5  Respect, Autonomy, Purpose, and Dignity in Residential Care Communities2.5.1  The Golden Rule2.5.2  Autonomy, Choice, and Control2.6  Essential Influencers2.6.1  Nurses and Nurse Aides2.6.2  Social Workers and Admissions Directors2.6.3  Activities Directors and Aides2.6.4  Dietary Directors and Aides
3  Relationships with Other Residents, Staff, and Family Members 3.1  Peer Relationships3.1.1  Care Recipients are Unique3.1.2  How Residents Develop Peer Relationships 3.1.3  Potential Barriers to Peer Relationships3.1.4  Facilitating Positive Peer Relationships3.2  Resident - Staff Relationships3.2.1  How Resident - Staff Relationships Develop3.2.2  Optimizing Resident - Staff Relationships3.3  Resident - Family Relationships3.3.1  Family Member Roles3.3.2  Facilitating Resident-Family Relationships3.4  Romantic Resident Relationships 3.4.1  Supporting Romantic Resident Relationships3.5  Essential Influencers3.5.1  Nursing and Direct Care Staff3.5.2  Social Workers3.5.3  Activities Director and Aides3.5.4  Dining Staff3.5.5  Volunteers
4  Activities and Religious Practices4.1  Psychosocial Benefits of Activities4.2  Frequency and Variety of Activities4.3  Adapting Activities for Residents with Impairments4.4  Religious and Spiritual Activities4.5  Essential Influencers4.5.1  Activities Director4.5.2  Activity Aides and Volunteers4.5.3  Social Workers4.5.4  Therapists4.5.5  Clergy
5  Environment and Surroundings5.1  Use of Homelike Design Principles5.1.1  Homelike and Hospitable Care5.1.2  Resident Bedrooms5.1.2.1  Privacy5.1.2.2  Personal Belongings5.1.2.3  Autonomy Over Personal Environment5.1.2.4  Bathrooms 5.1.3  Design of Communal Spaces 5.1.3.1  Caregiver Workspace 5.1.3.2  Living, Lounging, and Activity Spaces 5.1.3.3  Kitchen and Dining5.1.3.4  Shower and Tub Rooms or "Spas"5.1.4  Environmental Comfortability 5.2  Creating Safe and Functional Access to the Outdoors5.3  Environmental Considerations for Residents with Dementia5.4  Essential Influencers5.4.1  Social Workers 5.4.2  Maintenance Personnel5.4.3  Nursing and Direct Care Staff5.4.4  Activities Director5.4.5  Dining Staff
6  Food and Dining6.1  Aging Changes that Affect Food Consumption6.2  Quality of Food and Menu Options6.3  Modified Diets and Changes to Food Preparation for Resident Health Conditions6.4  Improving the Dining Experience6.5  The Dining Environment6.6  Essential Influencers6.6.1  Dieticians and Dietary Managers6.6.2  Medical Director and Therapists6.6.3  Dietary Aides6.6.4  Nurse Aides
7  Quality of Care7.1  Quality of Care7.2  Intersection of Care and Quality of Life7.3  Measuring and Assuring Quality7.4  Providing Quality Resident Care and Therapy Services7.5  Care Planning for Residents7.6  Transfers Between Care Settings7.7  Essential Influencers7.7.1  Medical Director and Director of Nursing7.7.2  Nursing Staff and Nurse Aides7.7.3  Therapists and Service Staff
8  Summary, Policy Recommendations, and Conclusions8.1  Care Recipients Should Direct Their Care8.2  Administrators as Champions and Chief Influencers 8.3  Organizational and Leadership Support8.4  Opportunities for Government Licensure and Regulatory Agencies8.5  The Imperative and Charge to Improve Resident Quality of Life