Overview
Altarum is evaluating a culture change initiative in six nursing homes in Michigan. The project aims to improve quality of life for residents of the nursing homes by improving the skills of staff and operational practices and protocols of the participating homes. The project is funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with Civil Monetary Penalty funds.
Our Approach
Altarum is assessing the impact and sustainability of comprehensive culture change training and education in a variety of nursing homes by monitoring selected clinical quality measures; analyzing quality-of-life reports from residents, family members and staff; tracking shifts in operations (such as more dining flexibility); and assessing the economic impact.
The Eden Alternative®, a global non-profit organization dedicated to creating quality of life for elders and their care partners, is providing education and coaching to the nursing homes. The training is designed to empower nursing home administrators and all other staff to understand how daily practices and protocols can be shifted from rigid, institutional patterns of service delivery to care that is more individually tailored to the individual needs and preferences of elderly residents.
Results
The project is in its second year, and we expect to have preliminary findings to share later this year. Our hope is to use learnings from Michigan to inform and replicate similar comprehensive culture change initiatives in other states.
Contact Us
Anne Montgomery - MS
Director, Eldercare Improvement
Areas of Expertise- Older Americans Act
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Long-Term Services and Supports
Anne develops policy and research initiatives that improve long-term services and supports and medical care for older adults receiving services from Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and other programs. She is leading efforts to implement and evaluate comprehensive culture change in nursing homes, and is working with colleagues to develop a new volunteer-based Community Care Corps program at the national level.
Sarah Slocum - MA
Deputy Director, Eldercare Improvement
Areas of Expertise- Long-term Services and Supports
- Medicare
- Medicaid
As deputy director of Altarum's Center for Eldercare Improvement, Sarah strives to create innovations and system changes that will make care for frail elders and people with disabilities available, accessible, and high quality in the setting of their choice. Through PACE expansion, benefit flexibility, and culture change efforts, she aims to change care delivery to a person-centered model.