Person-Centered Care For Nursing Home Residents: The Culture-Change Movement

TLDR

The “culture change” movement represents a fundamental shift in thinking about nursing homes, viewing facilities as person‑centered homes rather than health‑care institutions, driven by shared concerns about the value and quality of care. Policy makers can encourage culture change and capitalize on its transformational power through regulation, reimbursement, public reporting, and other mechanisms. They have shown promise in improving quality of life and quality of care, while alleviating high staff turnover.

Abstract

The "culture change" movement represents a fundamental shift in thinking about nursing homes. Facilities are viewed not as health care institutions, but as person-centered homes offering long-term care services. Culture-change principles and practices have been shaped by shared concerns among consumers, policy makers, and providers regarding the value and quality of care offered in traditional nursing homes. They have shown promise in improving quality of life as well as quality of care, while alleviating such problems as high staff turnover. Policy makers can encourage culture change and capitalize on its transformational power through regulation, reimbursement, public reporting, and other mechanisms.