Too often the senior care industry focuses on negative outcomes and the “clinical” part of the aging experience. Yet, there is much to be said about aging that is positive, and focusing on the benefits of growing old can increase the success of communities worldwide by making them more intergenerational and interdependent.
To move from providing only the most basic of needs (shelter, safety and physiological support), providers need to understand how optimizing their engagement strategy can move their residents up on Maslow’s pyramid.
A community cannot simply use a non-drug intervention and anticipate immediate results and a person-centered status.
As the CMS Rules of Participation continue to roll out, providers are required to promote resident agency in making their own daily decisions and to understand their unique so that a more person-centered perspective can be realized.
Hospital readmissions have become one of the top business metrics in senior care. An area often overlooked is the correlation between person-centered care and the reduction of rehospitalizations for older adults
The activities department in senior care communities plays an essential role in the well-being of older adults. It is often the only source of engagement, providing basic socialization opportunities, that can protect against the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on physical and mental well-being.
At a time when Medicare and Medicaid funding has becoming increasingly uncertain, it is important for providers to find cost-effective strategies for managing expenses while simultaneously increasing well-being and quality of life for their residents and staff.
In our role as providers serving our residents, we are tasked to address their needs and desires in the most person-centered way. Making sure we take into account who they are and where they are cognitively or physically is of the utmost importance.
To achieve a higher quality of life and longer periods of stay, retirement communities should consider a robust and fully comprehensive programming strategy. To address the needs of residents, they should aim at creating avenues of engagement opportunities for anyone at any time.
