Page 82 - Life Happens in the Kitchen

Page 76
CONSIDER THE OPTIONS
Workforce
Exercise 5 Moving Forward In the Range of Possibilities in Dining
TRADITIONAL
TRANSFORMATIONAL
NEIGHBORHOOD
HOUSEHOLD
Episodic, small steps– a place to start
Systematic changes in a home beginning to work on resident centered care
Creating home, cook to order, residents participate in preparation
True home, deep culture change
Millie waits to eat, to get dressed, and for the next scheduled activity. Decisions are made by management who do not even know Millie, based on efficiency, or on what is best for the group as a whole. Staff work with detailed assignment sheets that address the basics of Millie’s care but nothing of her pleasures in life. In a progressive home, teams may be working to address Millie’s opportunities for choice, or to implement the philosophy of the Eden Alternative,TM addressing her loneliness, helplessness or boredom. Millie’s birthday
is most likely celebrated at the monthly group party in the activity room, held by volunteers.
Millie enjoys close and continuing contact with her care giving team, but her team members continue to report
to their traditional department heads, so Millie’s preferences and needs are still dominated by traditional departmental needs. If Millie wished to have her meals at alternate times,
or at varying times on varying days, the departmental needs for efficiency and effective tray service will override Millie’s individual choice. Millie’s birthday will be honored by her caregiving team. She may be served a small cake or cupcake, most likely thawed just before service on her tray at noon.
Millie’s team includes permanent staff for strengthening relationships, and her neighborhood team holds itself accountable for implementing innovative approaches to meet Millie’s needs they also hold themselves accountable for problem solving, team spirit and cooperation. Millie’s birthday will be celebrated
in style, with a cake baked
by her neighborhood team and served to Millie and her friends with song and festivity on her special day.
Millie lives in community within
a large family of staff and elders, sharing her life with 9-20 other elders. Millie joins with the household care team to make
real decisions about daily life; management supports these decisions as long as the outcomes are good. Millie chooses her birthday dinner, teaches the staff
to cook the meal using her old fashioned recipe, without measures and time, but with pinches and “until it looks just right.” Her cake is baked from scratch, from her mom’s recipe, and shared with
her family in a joyous meal and celebration.
Porch Swing SeriesTM Culture Change Workbooks ©2004-2005 Action Pact, Inc
Staff – Elder Relationships