Linking Resident Satisfaction to Staff Perceptions of the Work Environment in Assisted Living: A Multilevel Analysis

PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between resident satisfaction and staff perceptions of the work environment in assisted living. Staff perceptions were assessed at the facility level, using aggregate measures of staff job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and views of organizational culture. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample included 335 residents and 298 staff members in 43 assisted living facilities. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Two-level hierarchical linear models were used to test the hypotheses. With resident age, gender, and education controlled for, the relationships between resident satisfaction (Level 1 variable) and staff perceptions of the work environment (Level 2 variables) were assessed. RESULTS: Greater resident satisfaction in the facility was associated with higher staff job satisfaction and more positive staff views of organizational culture (e.g., greater teamwork and participation in the decision making). From resident characteristics, only education was significantly related to satisfaction. More educated residents were less satisfied with assisted living. IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that a good quality of work environment for the staff contributes to a better quality of care for the residents. More research is needed to examine the causal nature of this relationship.