Person-centered care paying dividends at Kansas facilities

An in-person survey of 320 Kansas nursing homes showed that facilities with a specific approach to patient-centered care had more satisfied residents than those without it.

The Center on Aging at Kansas State University and the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research asked nearly 12,000 residents about their quality of life, care and service, and overall satisfaction with their nursing homes.

Buildings enrolled in a pay-for-performance program called Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas, or PEAK 2.0, were compared to those with no formal patient-centered initiatives.

Using the state’s resident satisfaction survey, researchers found that overall satisfaction scores were higher among residents in the PEAK 2.0 facilities.

“Residents in homes that had fully implemented [person-centered care] also reported being satisfied with the choices available to them, the respect shown to them, their privacy needs being met, and staff knowing their preferences,” reported the authors, led by Judith L. Poey, postdoctoral fellow at Kansas State.

In the November issue of JAMDA, they emphasized the influence staff can have on resident satisfaction and the importance of giving staff training and equipment that meets resident needs. They suggested PEAK 2.0 could serve as an easily replicated, systematic model.