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What Matters Most

Susan Misioriski

Susan is the National Director of PHI’s Training and Organizational Development team.

Elders interviewed regarding what matters most to their quality of life named four primary themes contributing to a meaningful living experience in the nursing home: competent staff who meet their individual care needs; freedom to make personal choices; relationships in which each person is able to both give and receive; and opportunities for meaningful activity.

This four-part series is based on interviews of elders living in several New Hampshire nursing homes conducted by Susan in 2010.

PART 1

Competent staff who successfully provide individualized care

PART 2

Freedom to make choices

PART 3

Relationships– exploring giving and receiving

PART 4

Opportunities for engaging in meaningful activity

Resources & Further Reading

Getting Started: A Pioneering Approach to Culture Change in Long-Term Care Organizations

Getting Started, authored by PHI Director of Organizational Change Susan Misiorski, introduces readers to the culture change journey.

The introduction makes an argument for why long-term care organizations should join this movement to transform nursing homes into person-centered communities in which residents and workers thrive. Subsequent chapters include personal stories of individuals who have embraced culture change, review a process for assessing their organization’s readiness for change, and discuss the importance of examining and realigning values, mission, and vision statements.

The majority of the handbook is devoted to 13 training modules designed to introduce culture change values to the entire nursing home community and to begin the process of transformation. The modules include detailed facilitator guides and handouts.