Long Term Living Magazine just published a great article about changing culture and improving resident’s experiences in nursing homes. I highly recommend everyone read it and take some ideas and implement.

Highlights:

Our enhanced bathing program, “SPA-Venture,” is centered on creating a spa-like atmosphere in what were our “institutional” shower rooms. Bathing is a very private experience that can be physically and emotionally cold, sterile, and institutional. We adapted the physical environment to enable the member to maintain as much independence and dignity as possible. A team of QOL aides, supervised by the restorative nurse, provides support for the functioning and maintenance of this program. Each room is equipped with a heated walk-in safety tub, heated towel racks, hair dryers, curling irons, spa robes, and slippers. Aromatherapy is provided to promote relaxation while soft music is playing. As you enter the spas, the first things you notice are the serene murals painted on the walls. You feel as though you are entering into a relaxing, comforting experience where you have no worries. It brings the bathing experience as close to homelike as possible.

And:

Our enhanced dining/hydration program, “Dining by Design,” offers our members a choice of when to eat, where to eat, and what to eat, while improving nutrition/hydration. This change provides a sense of control and improves self-esteem. This program is only partially complete, but you will see later in this article the impact we have already made with the changes that have occurred. Currently, we have developed three dining areas.

(there’s a lot more on this- go read about the different dining programs.)

Finally:

Our personal comfort program, “Comfort Zones,” focuses on decreasing behaviors, decreasing pharmacological intervention, decreasing pain without narcotic use, improving quality of sleep, and promoting socialization. Our vision here is to couple our current medication regimens with a program designed to promote well-being. The Comfort Zones were designed with three things in mind: relaxation, fun, and pampering. The Comfort Zones are further broken down into three areas: (1) Two Quiet Zones promote relaxation and well-being with the use of a waterfall wall, low-level lighting, gentle touch meassage, aroma/auditory therapy, soft plush recliners, and rocker gliders. We have recently planted a butterfly garden in front of the window of one of the Quiet Zone areas and this has attracted many more members to come relax and let their worries flutter away. (2) In the Fun Zone there are board games, checkers, puzzles, card games, a large-screen TV with DVD player, and many movies (of course you can always bring your favorite), and a Wii system for the adventurous type. (3) The Pamper Zone is designed to make everyone feel special. We encourage all to come down for a hot shave, a hand paraffin treatment, a manicure, a pedicure, and a hand or foot bubble spa treatment. You leave feeling great.

Sounds great! And the CNA’s are a important part of this transition. Called Quality of Life aides, they provide better care, more personalized and appropriate care, than typically expected.

The article offers much more detail as well as outcomes, and the process to go from average to superlative- the aches and pains of it all. A great and inspirational roadmap.