Relationships bloom in the Cedars' neighborhood.
Culture Change
Ask any one, undergoing a culture change in any organization is a hefty task. But, moving away from the old institutional model of long term care to a more person-centered approach is a tremendous journey, one that is a profound philosophical change. Today there is a big movement underway in healthcare to shift patient and resident experiences. In order to promote improved quality of care, more and more nursing care facilities are embracing the philosophy and values of culture change. The old institutional model of long term care is being replaced by a person directed or person centered model of care. This culture places the resident and their family at the heart of the organization. The underlying values support individuality, consistent staff, self determination, dignity and homelike atmosphere. At The Cedars we are doing just that! We are placing emphasis on developing positive relationships with our residents and their families. We are basing daily long-term care decisions on the residents’ needs, preferences and expectations. Such decisions like; when to wake up, bathe and what to eat are being determined by the residents. This culture change has empowered our residents and their families to have more control and actively participate in their overall healthcare.
In our search to improve the quality of care to our residents The Cedars has embraced the “Neighborhood”. The “Neighborhood” model of care incorporates a home-like atmosphere with a central dining and activity space. Our residents personalize their rooms. Resident centered care is a core component of the “Neighborhood”. Life stories, a comprehensive narrative about the resident’s life, assist the staff in knowing the residents and providing the appropriate care. All our residents have a unique and powerful story to tell about their lives. Our life stories are kept in a special notebook for all our staff to review. “Neighborhood” living encourages one-on-one care and empowers our employees to get to know the residents better as individuals and thus better meet their unique dining, social and health care needs. This model of care promotes dignity, choice and independence of our residents and we feel it is the key to a successful “Neighborhood”. If you should want more information regarding culture change, person centered care or “Neighborhood” please contact us.
Angela Hunt, RPT, MS
Executive Director