title: Characteristics, services, and infection control practices of New York City assisted living facilities, 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe New York City (NYC) assisted living facility (ALF) characteristics, services offered, and infection control practices and to identify infection control barriers and unmet needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  ALFs licensed or applying to be licensed in NYC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy ALFs; 70 of 77 eligible facilities participated (91% participation rate).
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone interview questions assessed ALF characteristics, services offered, and infection control practices, including glucometry practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALFs provided a broad range of services, such as vaccination (90%), assistance with taking medication (75%), bathing and showering (33%), and blood glucose monitoring (90%). Ninety percent of the facilities had nurses on site (directly employed or through a contract agency). Five facilities reported that residents sometimes shared glucometers, and one reported that fingerstick devices were sometimes shared. The majority of facilities wanted educational materials for staff (83%) and residents (77%) on topics including influenza, respiratory illness, norovirus, standard precautions, and general infection control. ALFs had a range of sick leave policies and infection control training requirements. Eighty-nine percent of the facilities reported having designated staff responsible for infection control, although 50% had nonclinical job titles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NYC ALFs were varied in terms of nursing services offered, characteristics, and residents' needs; therefore, public health agencies may need to be flexible in their assistance. Public health agencies should consider strengthening relationships with ALFs to identify unmet needs and gaps in services.
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. astachel@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Anna G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stachel
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bornschlegel
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D055815:Young Adult