Staff satisfaction ratings were significantly higher at the homes that participated in a 2002 resident-centered care (RCC) than at those that did not, according to Culture Change in a For-Profit Nursing Home Chain: An Evaluation. But much of that difference may be due to the fact that Beverly Healthcare chose some of its best nursing homes, where staff satisfaction was already high, to participate in the initiative.

The aim was to transform the nursing homes involved from institutions to homes. The philosophy behind resident-centered care is to respect the needs and preferences of the people receiving care, restoring dignity, autonomy, and choice to both nursing home residents and the direct-care workers they rely on.

Beverly’s initiative was “a milestone,” according to the Commonwealth Fund report, because it marked the first time a national for-profit chain instituted culture change as part of a quality improvement initiative. “Given that the majority of the nation’s nursing home beds are owned or operated by for-profit companies, Beverly Healthcare’s RCC initiative could have broad applications.” According to the report, Beverly’s resident-centered care initiative improved residents’ quality of life and created better work environments for staff.