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

Action Pact. Culture change consultants and trainers.

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

Barbara Bowers' Manual. "Implementing Change in Long-Term Care" is a detailed guide for how to engage nursing home staff at all levels of change.

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)

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.

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

Long-Term Care Improvement Guide. A practical resource intended to support continuing care communities in their efforts to bring about culture change. (296-page PDF)

"Look at Me". A 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.”

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-Centered Care Poster. The voices of elders, family, and staff are considered and respected. (1-page PDF)

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

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

Wellspring Institute. Offers education, guidance, and tools to nursing homes to assist in culture change. Primarily focuses on strengthening clinical and managerial skills of staff, empowering residents and frontline staff, and creating a high quality of life for residents.

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.