Anatomy of a Choice: Deciding on Assisted Living or Nursing Home Care in Oregon

This study, based on interviews with 1,215 assisted living and nursing home residents and family members in Oregon, compares assisted living residents and their family proxies with their nursing home counterparts regarding preferences for long-term care settings and circumstances and decisions surrounding their move. Analyses showed some differences between reported preferences of assisted living and nursing home groups, with the former placing more emphasis on control over private space and the latter on rehabilitation. There were also many similarities, however, especially in the views of residents themselves rather than those of their family proxies. For example, high value given by both groups to help with care from staff, decisions on how much care, and private rooms indicate policy planners and providers should take into account such preferences and develop a hybrid of positively valued features in both assisted living and nursing homes.