Nursing home residents and workers benefit from culture change that makes the care more person-centered and the living environment more like a home. Although California has not been in the forefront of such culture change, there are positive developments, including growing interest at the state level and initiatives of the California Culture Change Coalition.
This 2008 issue brief looks at the state of long-term supports (LTS) for people with permanent disabilities and functional impairment in terms of the culture change movement in California and nationally. Despite complex financial and other challenges, some California trailblazers are moving ahead. Culture change focuses on relationships and people instead of regulations, policies, and procedures. It encompasses:
- Care practices
- Environment
- Workplace practice
- Leadership practice
- Family and community inclusion
Six innovative models — requiring differing levels of cost and new construction — are introduced: The Eden Alternative, Wellspring, Planetree, the household model, the neighborhood model, and the Green House® Home Model.
The complete issue brief is available under Document Downloads.