Comments on: The Culture Change Way: Empowering direct care workers to improve care http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/the-culture-change-way-empowering-direct-care-workers-to-improve-care/ What direct care worker advocates are thinking, saying and doing Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:04:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Klint Reiber http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/the-culture-change-way-empowering-direct-care-workers-to-improve-care/comment-page-1/#comment-3246 Klint Reiber Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:13:31 +0000 http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2564#comment-3246 This article is right up my alley! I am a recent college graduate and I put together a business plan to build a senior living community, and it is VERY similar to the Lebanon Valley Brethren Homes. Becka, if you get a chance, I would love to get some feedback from my website. Remember, it's only an 'plan' right now. I just graduated in December, so I am in the process of marketing to investors. I will be saving this article! This article is right up my alley! I am a recent college graduate and I put together a business plan to build a senior living community, and it is VERY similar to the Lebanon Valley Brethren Homes.

Becka, if you get a chance, I would love to get some feedback from my website. Remember, it’s only an ‘plan’ right now. I just graduated in December, so I am in the process of marketing to investors.

I will be saving this article!

]]> By: Bob Stevens http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/the-culture-change-way-empowering-direct-care-workers-to-improve-care/comment-page-1/#comment-2951 Bob Stevens Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:58:06 +0000 http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2564#comment-2951 It's great to see resident-centered approaches! Where can we get more information such as resident surveys, resident's families surveys, comparative costs to conventional settings, shahbaz salaries, shahbaz schedules, shahbaz workloads, etc? Under "What employers can do..." I believe your list is worthwhile only after employers have hiring practices in place to hire the right people to begin with. It’s great to see resident-centered approaches! Where can we get more information such as resident surveys, resident’s families surveys, comparative costs to conventional settings, shahbaz salaries, shahbaz schedules, shahbaz workloads, etc? Under “What employers can do…” I believe your list is worthwhile only after employers have hiring practices in place to hire the right people to begin with.

]]> By: Larry Wenger http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/the-culture-change-way-empowering-direct-care-workers-to-improve-care/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 Larry Wenger Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:02:44 +0000 http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2564#comment-2947 Who could possibly disagree with paying direct care workers better salaries. But I disagree that it is an answer to low morale and poor job satisfaction levels. Not much research to suggest that its true and everyday experience tells me that if people felt underpaid and overworked before a pay raise they'll feel the same after the raise...within two weeks. Becka's other points (1-7) are however right on target. In my work in lots of direct care settings too many managers are more skilled at de-motivating than motivating. Funny, in the human services field, we should be good at it. Who could possibly disagree with paying direct care workers better salaries. But I disagree that it is an answer to low morale and poor job satisfaction levels. Not much research to suggest that its true and everyday experience tells me that if people felt underpaid and overworked before a pay raise they’ll feel the same after the raise…within two weeks. Becka’s other points (1-7) are however right on target. In my work in lots of direct care settings too many managers are more skilled at de-motivating than motivating. Funny, in the human services field, we should be good at it.

]]> By: Christine Holmes http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/the-culture-change-way-empowering-direct-care-workers-to-improve-care/comment-page-1/#comment-2945 Christine Holmes Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:03:40 +0000 http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2564#comment-2945 How much nicer it would be to be able to do away with the old institutionalized look of most LTCF and live in a rather informal "family" atmosphere. Unfortunatley I believe the reality is that as long as medicare reimbursements stay low for LTC than we will always see the cold environment of nursing homes, assembly line care by DCW's, unqualified indiviuals working as DCW's, low wages and disrespect for the profession. I truly believe we undervalue human beings and treat them accordingly, especially the elderly and disabled. It seems as if we as a society, value the dollar more than another human being. Call me cynical or jaded but seeing cuts in all health and human services year after year give little hope that our country and culture can change it's way of thinking. And yet there is something to be said for the "silver-lining." Grassroots organizations such as DCA and individual state organizations are wonderful ways to start reaching our goals of change, not only for DCW's but for the people who are dependent on them. How much nicer it would be to be able to do away with the old institutionalized look of most LTCF and live in a rather informal “family” atmosphere. Unfortunatley I believe the reality is that as long as medicare reimbursements stay low for LTC than we will always see the cold environment of nursing homes, assembly line care by DCW’s, unqualified indiviuals working as DCW’s, low wages and disrespect for the profession. I truly believe we undervalue human beings and treat them accordingly, especially the elderly and disabled. It seems as if we as a society, value the dollar more than another human being. Call me cynical or jaded but seeing cuts in all health and human services year after year give little hope that our country and culture can change it’s way of thinking.
And yet there is something to be said for the “silver-lining.” Grassroots organizations such as DCA and individual state organizations are wonderful ways to start reaching our goals of change, not only for DCW’s but for the people who are dependent on them.

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