By Kathy McCollett

Kathy McCollett

Kathy is an Organizational Culture Change Specialist with PHI’s Training and Organizational Development team.

The Pioneer Network’s 10th National Conference “Meeting at the Crossroads” was convened in Indianapolis August 9-11, 2010. The Pioneer Network “advocates and facilitates deep system change and transformation in our culture of aging.” In record attendance, people from all over the country and around the world participated in the nearly one hundred sessions offered for those interested in advancing the culture change movement.

Bonnie Kantor, executive director of the Pioneer Network, presented valuable new tools and information that have been developed this year by the Pioneer Network–all of which are now available at pioneernetwork.net.

Carter Catlett Williams opened the conference. She acknowledged that we are at the crossroads of a nation, of an industry, and as individuals. The beauty of meeting at these crossroads, she said, is that it allows us to share information with each other about where we have been, what we have learned, our visions and our dreams, and where we are going.

Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee said that she “has a heart for people.” She believes that there is a great need for more home- and community-based services and sees culture change as a national priority. Acknowledging that the attendees at the conference are “revolutionizing aging,” she said, “I want to be a partner with you in every single way,” and, “I want this to be about ‘long term independence’ rather than ‘long-term care.’”

In recognition of her contribution to “deep system change,” Karen Schoeneman, the deputy director of the Division of Nursing Homes for CMS, was presented the 2010 Picker Institute Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Patient-Centered Care in the Long-Term Care Setting. She has worked tirelessly for many years toward deepening culture change values in the long-term care survey process.

Many of the presenters reflected the thought that changing the culture of aging is about developing and maintaining relationships. Dorothy Seman of the Alzheimer’s Family Care Center in Chicago said, “What we do isn’t rocket science, it’s much harder than that! We are about people and relationships. With each encounter, you either deepen or diminish the relationship.”

Relationship-centered care was also a theme in PHI’s presentations at the conference when addressing topics such as ‘The Role of the Nurse in a Person-Directed Culture,’ ‘Elder Perspectives & Residents Preferences,’ and ‘Transformative Training: Creating the Change You Wish to See in the World.’ PHI also took a special interest in building on the relationships that have been established in the State Culture Change Coalitions and moving this school of thought forward in as many states as possible. Two case studies demonstrating how PHI’s Coaching Approach℠ can transform organizations were presented by Tricia Cummings of The Edgewood Centre and Mavis Flowers from Beth Abraham Family of Health Services.

Whether in a learning session facilitated by an expert, in a restaurant or hallway conversation, attending a ‘sage conversation’ or a ‘think tank,’ and whether attendees were new to the field or veterans, all 1,150 people in attendance seemed to be intent on learning and sharing what was meaningful to them about changing the culture of aging. Meeting at the “Crossroads” afforded us all the opportunity to move forward with newly affirmed goals, traveling on a common road, yet taking our own path.