A Case Study on Assessing Quality of Life in a Resident of an Assisted Living Facility

Abstract

Lorna (a pseudonym) is an 81-year-old African American female who resides in an assisted living facility in a small town in southern Kentucky, where she was born. She has some minor health issues, and her family alleges she has emotional issues going back to childhood. She is mentally competent, and until ten years ago resided independently in the home purchased by her deceased parents. Since leaving this home, Lorna has become increasingly withdrawn from family members and society; she has also lost weight and seems to have declined mentally. This case study used five different assessments to build a profile of Lorna’s current state and develop recommendations for her care. These tools could potentially form the basis of a standardized assessment protocol for other older adults who are not thriving in assisted-living facilities.