Culture Change & Person-Centered Care

Culture change is the common name given to the 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.

Current Work

Stratis Health is a founding member of the Minnesota Culture Change Coalition, a broad range of long-term care stakeholders working to support, supplement, and foster culture change in nursing homes on a broader scale than could be achieved through any one of the group’s individual efforts.

Resources

Almost Home Documentary This ground-breaking documentary is about people who live, work and visit in a nursing home on the journey to transforming how they function. In addition to telling the story of St. Johns, a companion site is also available delving deeper into culture change and providing useful resources on the topic.

Pioneer Network A network of organizations and people dedicated to the culture change movement.

The Eden Alternative The Eden Alternative creates habitats for people who live and work in nursing homes.

Action Pact Culture hange consultants and trainers.

Wellspring Institute was one of the first efforts to affect culture change and has assisted nursing homes throughout the country in advancing excellence in their settings. The Wellspring Program offers education, guidance, and tools to nursing homes to assist in culture change.

Direct Care Workers Alliance The Direct Care Alliance is the advocacy voice of direct care workers, by direct care workers, and for direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career.

Minnesota Culture Change Coalition The Minnesota Culture Change Coalition is a broad range of long-term care stakeholders working to support, supplement, and foster culture change in nursing homes on a broader scale than could be achieved through any one of the group’s individual efforts.

Person Directed Care Model puts the resident at the center of all decisions and priorities in a nursing home. (1-page PDF)

Continuum of Care illustrates moving from institutional nursing home care and person directed care to the opposite end of a spectrum, person directed care. Examples are shown in the context of a nursing home's environment, care practices, and workplace practices.(3-page PDF)

"Look at Me" is three-minute video, set to pictures and music, that tells the story of a man who lives in a nursing home. He asks his caregivers to see past his condition and “look closer, see me.”

Contact Stratis Health for assistance with your quality improvement and patient safety needs.

If your organization has projects it would like to work on, contact us to discuss how we can work together to support culture change and person-centered care initiatives.