In Reply We appreciate Canter and Green’s letter and are glad they highlighted the decline in going out for enjoyment in our study. Indeed, our data suggest that long-term care facility (LTCF) entry promotes community participation at the potential expense of socialization.
Advocates for improving LTCFs have long cautioned against institutionalized recreation—scheduled activities like bingo that fill time but mask a lack of meaning. We firmly believe psychosocial care requirements for nursing homes and assisted living facilities should not be satisfied through low-value activities in lieu of meaningful ones.
JAMA Internal Medicine published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 01 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Social Participation Before and After Long-Term Care Entry—Reply.
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