Are we finally getting more comfortable going outside the box to deliver dignified care? Anne-Marie Botek at AgingCare.com recently explored concepts like dementia towns, Green Houses, Villages, and The Eden Alternative.
She made the point that putting people first sometimes means doing some unconventional things; like allowing plants, animals, and children into nursing homes to help deliver care to the elders. The goal is to move towards a brighter future where the focus of long-term care is evolving from a model based primarily on efficiency, to one based on providing person-centered care. She also notes that these new approaches are proving that a person-centered approach can be both profitable and provide seniors with high-quality care.
For example, research on Eden Alternative homes and Green Houses has shown that a person-focused care model can lead to higher occupancy rates and lower monthly resident fees than the national average. These facilities often have lower staff turnover rates, longer staff tenures, and fewer elders with pressure sores.
Botek concludes:
Happily, radical changes in the industry may eventually transform long-term care from the only option for seniors with advanced medical needs — into the best option.
Can you give an example of going outside the box to deliver dignified care? Is it time to move forward and make the next generation of long-term care available to everyone? Tell us what you think!
