The purpose of this study was to examine resident policies in assisted living facilities and to recommend consistent policies for resident handbooks. To accomplish this purpose, in the first phase, a mail survey form was developed to determine current resident policies provided in existing assisted living facilities in Virginia. In the second phase, the researcher analyzed each policy from the eight participating assisted living facilities and then compared the policies to determine which policies should be included in resident handbooks. Policies with similar content, but with different names were categorized together. The study employed the content-analysis method, which is oriented to qualitative research. The number of resident policies dealt with in this study totaled 56. The framework for analyzing resident policies was divided into three sections: 1) policies related to administration, 2) policies related to resident services, and 3) resident activities listed in the handbooks.

As a result of content analysis and evaluation of policies as they related to the aging process, a total of 27 recommendations were suggested. Two recommendations were suggested based on the findings of the resident handbooks survey, and 25 recommendations were suggested from analysis of the handbooks. The recommendation of resident policies can help staff to manage assisted living facilities efficiently, and the handbooks will be able to offer prospective residents clear information as they make decisions among various assisted living facilities. Moreover, current residents will benefit from lucid and consistent resident handbooks in that they will provide explicit information about policies and services.