Spread the word

It is common to think culture change is a movement in long-term care, but, to truly be effective, it needs to be a movement in our whole society. It is not only the folks who work in nursing homes who need to value choice and home and the elders themselves, but everybody. A) because we need to stop isolating frail elders from society in general. B) because it is really everybody’s issue because we all grow old. C) because the more folks that get on board, the more it will become the norm and what is expected of long-term care. Family members will demand their loved ones have choice and home. It is easier for the traditional, institutional model to exist if there is no demand otherwise.

When people ask me, “So, what do you write about?” and I say “nursing homes,” I can almost see behind their eyes thoughts of linoleum floors, institutional clutter, people staring and slumping all bathed in a blue/grey florescent glow. And then I go on to tell them about culture change, about the way it is and the way it could be. I see them begin to shut down as I describe a life without home and choice because nobody wants to think about it. But when I go on to talk about the bright possibilities and the quiet but strong efforts being made for deep change, I see hope in their eyes and I know they will think about it if and when the times comes for a loved one to move into long-term care. I know they will think about the aspects of “home” in a nursing home.

So, here’s the activity: Next time you are somewhere and somebody asks you what you do for a living, or how work is going, tell him or her about your culture change efforts. You don’t have to drag out your organization’s Values Statement, but make a statement of value by telling them about how you’ve changed breakfast, instituted permanent staffing, gotten rid of departmental silos or, bless you, put elders back in the driving seat of their own lives with resident-directed care. And tell them why. Get them excited. Help create the demand. I bet you’ll even feel some pride about your work too.

You can also do a learning circle with your team on: "What can I tell my neighbors and friends about our culture change efforts here?" or "What am I proud of regarding our culture change efforts?"