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Culture Change


actpro

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Hi everyone,

I need some help on this culture change. I have started some changes in our NH.

We have started the home dining. We named our halls. Now I am working on getting everyone else to go along with activity change. I have not been able to do that. It is not my job they say. If anyone has any suggestions for me, please HELP.

actpro in TEXAS

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Have you taken the workshop at Activitydirector.org? There's great information to print out to take in and do an inservice. If we show the rest of the staff how much they are doing already to help out, maybe it will be easier...For instance..Olive Ewe loves to read the paper, and hear about what is going on in the world. Is she up and dressed and toileted, ready to go to current events? That is the nursing assistant's job. It starts at 9:30. Has the nurse given Olive her meds beforehand, so that she will not interrupt Olive during the activity, when she is trying to listen? What about the escort that Olive will need to get to current events? The activity staff is busy getting others to the event, but a housekeeper is nearby, and knows that Olive likes to be there, and for the minute it takes, she can bring Olive to the activity room. Late at night, when John is awake, as he is most nights, restless, because he cannot sleep, a nursing assistant can take out a sensory box, kept near the nurse's station..maybe there's a pair of shoes he can 'polish', or if there is a night watchman making rounds, maybe John can go with him for part of the rounds to 'help'. The receptionist at the front desk, who has a resident help sort mail..all this is part of the team becoming involved. They probably already do it, we just need to show them that, and ask them to pick one more thing that they could do. Ever have the power go off...in the middle of a meal? Watch how everyone pulls together, and does extra... they are great at that. We just have to remind them that they are great at working together every day, and we need them .

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Cakes

I would like to get some ideas about where to start the huge process of culture change. I have lots of questions on the impact of activities and dietary. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

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At our facility we have a committee of board members and management staff who have been studying the culture change/person first concept for the past 6 months, budgeting for the change has been a challenge for us. We have toured other facilities who are involved in the process and have learned a wealth of information from them. We plan to hire a consulting group to assist us in the process. While exploring the options/possiblities we have found ourselves overwhelmed on most days. We have also attended multiple training seminars/workshops, etc. You may want to check out the following websites www. actionpact.org, www.almosthomedoc.org, www.pioneernetwork.net and www.riqualitypartners.org- click on the long term care link for lots of info. I'd love to chat with anyone else out there who is involved in the process... www.wonytineres@hotmail.com

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Guest Guest_Brenda

Thanks for the links,

 

I am going to read up on this! Anymore info will be appreciated!

 

Brenda

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Hi I need some help with cultures also, Our facility is becoming more and more a melting pot. We have Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish and Pakistani.. if anyone has any culture ideas I could sure use some ideas.. we have several club ideas we wanted to start and a few activities.. if anyone knows the customs of any of the different cultures that you can share I think I can work with that.. religious preferences .. celebrations, food snacks games.. everybody pitch in and tell us what you know about the various cultures we can all benefit.. thanks,

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  • 3 weeks later...

We started this process 4 years ago and it petered off. Now I am bringing it bakc with a little more caution.

 

You know, when we go to hear about Eden, Culturechange, etc. We get excited and jump in. It is almost always a bad thing.

 

Let em tell you what I am doing and then you can decide. The first thing is gathering information about all of the elements, from the residents. When we first started, we relied heavily on the staff, if you don't do that the right way it will crash, and it did. So now I don't worry about staff (yes I know I should). My first project will be an in house pet therapy program. It will involve the floors directly and we are heavily staffed with volunteers. I have a large plan for other projects, but I am sold on pets since my animals have come in.

 

If you would like more, just drop me a line at bigchris1974@hotmail.com

 

I can fill you in.

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hmm am not realy sure what you all mean by culture change.???

 

in australia for several years now i have been working with multiculturism. We have community visitor programmes whereby volunteer visitors through The Multicultural Societys are matched up with a resident of same nationality ( if they want to be involved of course) they are able to then continue converse and have letters read to them etc in their own language.

 

Also we have communication scripts which are in a variety language ( and if we dont' have it we find it) with pictures and english translation for staff. We plan and organise special theme days to celebrate customs and important days for them..that is IF they celebrate them and want to continue with their personal practises and celebrations. No point organising say Christmas if there were no christians and no one celebrated ( as an example) -meals are also organised to reflect the individual taste.

 

in australia it is a bit of a custom for Friday afternoon ( end of the working week) to have a few drinks with friends etc especialy the men of the times gone past. so a lot of facilities organise a Happy Hour for the end of the week or even the month to continue with that custom.

 

i read on one of the posts here about pets..?? We also have pet therapists available that visit about once a month or every two weeks for a low cost (donation) always extremely popular!

 

good luck...will be popping back in to get some ideas sounds great.

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ahh just did a google search i see what you are talkign about now.

 

i am pleased to say that in Australia about 6 or so years ago they brought in an accreditation process and through that process a set of guidelines were devised to adhere to within aged care facilities. if you dont' comply you close down. and many many have! and i say Thank God for that. they were nothing but shower eat bed shower eat bed facilities.

 

Through the guidelines that came forth there was a lot of work and changes that had to put in place. Much like what the culture change web site talks about. a HOME like environment. People treated as individuals not as one huge group all eat the same and have the same routines etc.

 

however each home in itself does have a culture and celebrations in their own style. i have just started employment in a dementia specific unit and i am facing the challenge of assisting to change a culture created by some long term staff that negates the residents rights etc because of the perception held toward them. not an easy task and i am sure most of you can relate to that.

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  • 5 months later...
Guest Tinki

I want to continue the discussion on culture change so I am bumping this topic back to the top of the board!!!

 

Karen

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As I mentioned in my earlier post, go with caution.

 

In my travels I have met a "ton" of administrators that say they have culture change in thier facility. Culture change is what it says, a change in the culture or overall vision of the facility. It is not a title.

 

THe Pioneer Network is doing a ton of good stuff and there is new research on the topic, I would suggest the following things first....

 

 

1) Research and visit those facilities that instill this vision, I would even advise to go to older facilities that "retrofitted" thier place.

 

2) Plan the process and realize that it will not be overnight.

 

3) Identify elements that seem crucial to your facility and residents. For instance, we chose to personalize the halls and floors beyond giving them a name or decor, we created entire themes for each unit that transformed them and the staff.

 

4) Create a team that deals with every aspect of the process. Hindsight is 20/20, I was very glad that I included front line employees and HKPNG.

 

 

 

That should get you started. Let me know if you need anything else.

 

 

BigChris

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