What is Culture Change?
“Culture change” is the common name given to the national movement for the transformation of older adult services, based on person-directed values and practices where the voices of elders and those working with them are considered and respected. Core person-directed values are choice, dignity, respect, self-determination and purposeful living.
Culture change transformation supports the creation of both long and short-term living environments as well as community-based settings where both older adults and their caregivers are able to express choice and practice self-determination in meaningful ways at every level of daily life.
Culture change transformation may require changes in organization practices, physical environments, relationships at all levels and workforce models – leading to better outcomes for consumers and direct-care workers without inflicting detrimental costs on providers.
There are 35 state culture change coalitions in the United States at the current time. These coalitions were formed to promote and advance person-centered care and culture change in their state across all long term care settings. Many of the coalitions started with changing the culture of nursing home care since it is the most institutional setting; new coalitions are focusing on the whole continuum of long term care settings.
The Oklahoma Culture Change Network will bring together organizations that have different agendas to support a common agenda of promoting culture change in our state; facilitating the ability to network with others, to share experiences and ideas in implementing culture change, and to come together to advocate for needed changes in the long-term care system on the state and federal levels. There is strength in numbers and when legislators and other policy makers see individuals and organizations that don’t always agree advocating for change together, it can be a powerful force.
Culture Change has become a driving force for the decisions, mission and care direction of many organizations in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Culture Change Network Steering Committee has appointed LeadingAge Oklahoma to assist in developing culture change in our state by facilitating monthly meetings, creating an Oklahoma culture change web presence and act as a liaison with the Oklahoma Department of Health as needed to resolve any regulatory issues which conflict with culture change goals.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Oklahoma Culture Change Network, please send your request to Lisa@LeadingAgeOK.org.
LeadingAge OK is immersed in the process of implementing our $353,000 grant to bring the Music and Memory program into Oklahoma nursing homes. This is a part of culture change, rethinking how we improve the quality of life for residents in nursing homes. This grant program will include monthly webinars, seminars with nationally recognized experts, and many valuable resources for providers.
LeadingAge OK is focusing on Music and Memory through mid-2018 as a priority for culture changes as this will affect the quality of life for residents in our nursing homes. We invite everyone to be a part of the Music and Memory program.
The Oklahoma Culture Change Network will not be meeting as we are encouraging a focus for all providers to participate in Music for the Ages, a Music and Memory program.
To learn more about Music and Memory, go to: https://leadingageok.org/music-for-the-ages/
Resources:
First 24 Hours Paves the Way to Resident Satisfaction
Person-Centered Care in Assisted Living An Informational Guide
www.PHInational.org/training
The Learning CircleFiner with Age: – Person Centered Care
April 19, 2016 Handouts
Initial Resident Activity Assessment
Creating a Bucket List
Governor Mary Fallin, at the request of LeadingAge Oklahoma, issues a proclamation declaring April 28-May 2, 2014 as Culture Change in Long Term Care Week.
Whereas, “Culture Change” is happening in long term care communities across the state including nursing homes, assisted living, residential care, and adult day centers.
Whereas, “Culture Change” is a process of transforming traditional, institutional long-term care facilities into true homes and involves a change of environment, systems and attitude.
Whereas, “Culture Change” is not just a change you can see, it’s a change you feel. It is a change elders feel as they direct their own lives and the way staff feel as they are empowered to help them do so that celebrates life, love, and the pursuit of overall well-being.
Whereas, “Culture Change” places decision making with the elder and with those that work closest to them; it empowers the care partners who are involved in the daily care and flattens the traditional hierarchy of decision-making thereby placing greater independence over each elder’s daily life that improves employee morale, employee turnover, and resident outlook which in turn create a dramatic positive impact on the daily lives of the resident.
Whereas, “Culture Change Week” honors the care partners who practice culture change every day as they serve elders in a resident-directed environment.
Whereas, “Culture Change Week” will inspire long term care professionals, caregivers, and the citizens of Oklahoma to have a greater sense of awareness of the importance of our elders.
Now, therefore, I, Mary Fallin, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim April 28th through May 2nd, 2014 as “Culture Change in Long Term Care Week”
Culture Change Week in Oklahoma, April 28 – May 2, 2014
“Culture Change” is happening in long term care communities across the state including nursing homes, assisted living, and adult day centers and in senior living communities throughout the nation. “Culture Change” is the transformation of older adult services, based on person-centered care, values and practices where the voices of elders and those working with them are considered and respected.
“Culture Change” is a process and movement of transforming traditional, institutional long-term care facilities into true homes. It involves a change of environment, systems and attitude. It’s not just a change you can see, it’s a change you feel; and a change elders feel as they direct their own lives and the way staff feel as they are empowered to help them do so. The goal is to de-institutionalize the delivery of care to our elders and create an environment that celebrates life, love, and the pursuit of overall well-being.
Relationships are at the heart of this philosophy and as a result, it strengthens ties with the care partners, family, friends and community. “Culture Change,” sometimes referred to as person-centered care, encourages the highest level of quality of life and respect of the person as an individual. It places decision making with the elder and/or with those that work closest to them; it empowers the care partners who are involved in the daily care and flattens the traditional hierarchy of decision-making thereby placing greater independence over each elder’s daily life.
The practice of person-centered care improves employee morale, employee turnover, and resident outlook which in turn create a dramatic positive impact on the daily lives of the resident.
Promoting “Culture Change Week” will educate those unfamiliar with culture change and encourage them to embrace change. It will also honor the care partners who practice culture change every day for the benefit of the residents they love so dearly.
“Culture Change Week” in Oklahoma is our way of expanding the possibilities for aging in Oklahoma! We ask that you join us in our efforts to recognize the transformation that is underway in long term care.