She wants to continue to live life to the fullest
Posted by Patti on October 25th, 2005 / Print This Post
Another good article about culture change. While I agree we need to change nursing homes-that sterile, medical model that focuses and uses NURSING CARE as an excuse to manage resident’s lives…I think some people are expecting too much. With funding going the way it is, only the very sick and ill will be admitted pretty soon. Those who are better off, will need to find alternatives.
When it’s time for Paula Connell to go to a nursing home, she knows what she wants.She wants a dining room with tablecloths, linen napkins and a restaurant-style menu.
She wants a spa that offers massages.
She wants to make her own decisions — about when to get up and when to go to bed, about when she’ll take her shower or bath, about when she’ll eat and when she’ll take her medications.
She wants to stay in a “neighborhood,” not on a “nursing unit.”
Above all, she wants to continue to live life to the fullest — to enjoy spontaneous activities with family and friends, to continue learning new things, to be involved in her community.
Sound like an unrealistic scenario?
Connell says it’s definitely a possibility as nursing homes throughout the country are beginning to embrace a new philosophy called “culture change” that aims to make residents’ lives more satisfying and meaningful.
The goal of this “culture change” movement — also called the “pioneer movement” or “person-directed care” — is to combat the three plagues of long-term care: Loneliness, helplessness and boredom.
“Culture change is getting away from a medical model to a more social-based model,” said Mike Duffy, administrator of Good Samaritan Home in Quincy. “Culture change is really putting the resident first.”
While nursing home residents’ medical needs continue to be met, more attention is paid to their social needs and overall quality of life.
Most importantly, the elderly are given more power to make decisions on their own.
“People are used to variety and change. They’re used to their own patterns,” Duffy said. “We’re trying to be in tune and addressing people’s desires and wishes.”