As part of its annual Best Nursing Homes issue this month, U.S. News and World Report includes a feature on how culture change can transform a nursing home into a good place to live by respecting residents and fitting care plans and schedules to their individual needs – and by empowering caregivers and nurturing their relationships with the residents.
The feature begins with an anecdote about a man who loves to visit his mother at the home, Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, because of “the easy warmth of the nurses and aides,” who he says are like “kid sisters” or his own daughters.”
In explaining the changing role of staff in culture change homes, the article notes: “One way these homes make the transition easier for caregivers is to do for them what they are doing for residents: give them a voice, and be willing to bend traditional roles. Involving nurses as well as nursing assistants and “homemakers” (a blend of chef and housekeeper) in determining the cause of a medical problem and how to fix or prevent it—a resident who has fallen or has incontinence-related skin infections, say—empowers staff….
“Encouraging input and removing some of the traditional hierarchy tend to lead to higher job satisfaction. And that translates into fewer employees calling at the last minute to say they won’t be in, requiring overtime work by a colleague or hiring an agency temp to pick up the shift. It also reduces staff turnover, a notorious headache for nursing homes that leads to revolving caregivers for your loved one.”
I am thrilled to see the story of changing nursing homes. I am also thrilled to see that there is movement afoot advocating for these changes as the baby boomers are becoming eligible for long term care. The job of CNA is the grease for the change wheel to turn. The CNA must be compensated with a fair wage, but also with health benefits to take care of herself and family, and most importly, a pension so that she will stay on the job and can retire with security.