Changing the Culture of Nursing Homes in Minnesota
Improving the Quality of Life for Those Living in Long-Term Care
Source: AARP.org | April 24, 2007
The Minnesota Culture Change Coalition, a group of 20 organizations involved in long-term care, is working to improve the culture in nursing homes so that they better reflect what consumers want—dignity, respect, choice and self-determination in long-term care.
AARP and fellow coalition members recently sponsored a conference for consumers, policy-makers and long-term care advocates to explore culture change in nursing homes and discover how to improve the lives of those living in long-term care.
Culture change is very important to Minnesotans with family members currently in a nursing home, or for those who believe a nursing home stay for a family member is in the near future. The conference helped these consumers learn about some of the ways nursing homes are changing to give residents the ability to make their own decisions about how they want to go about their daily lives.
"As family members who want the best for our loved ones, we need to learn how to work with collectively with staff and administration of nursing homes to better the quality of life," said AARP State Director Michele Kimball. "I am proud that residents, staff, family councils and others who are dedicated to culture change in nursing homes are working together to make a difference across the state."
The following organizations volunteered their time, their ideas, and dreams of what long-term care could look like as part of a culture change dialogue group that has become the Minnesota Culture Change Coalition:
AARP
Advocacy Strategy
Alzheimer's Association
Benedictine Health Center, Duluth
Care Providers of Minnesota
ElderCare Rights Alliance
Grandview Christian Home, Cambridge
Hospice Minnesota
The Lutheran Home of Belle Plaine
Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators
Minnesota Department of Health (State Survey Agency)
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Minnesota Directors of Nursing Administration/LTC
Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance
Minnesota Home Care Association
Municipal Hospital & Granite Manor, Granite Falls
National Institute of Health Policy
Neilson Place, Bemidji
Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans
Stratis Health
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota Center on Aging
Walker Methodist Health Center, Minneapolis
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