Page 62 - The Deep Seated Issue of Choice

THE DEEP SEATED ISSUE OF CHOICE
WHAT MAKES NEW IDEAS DIFFICULT?
old mindset makes us way too satisfied with the low-hanging fruit—those positive outcomes that inevitably result from even modest changes.
Because even small improvements are so much better than the old way, it is easy to become complacent and avoid the really difficult work necessary to create true home for elders. The danger is that the literacy of this new model is so dramatically increasing that you can delude yourself into being satisfied with the low-hanging fruit. Meanwhile, our competitor down the street will come in with the full literacy of the new model. The time has passed where making only minor improvements is sufficient. We have the path now, the way is clear, people need to take it or they are going to compromise their competitiveness in the near future.
But people are not moving with a sense of urgency; they still think they have endless time to change the culture of long-term care. Some opt for short cuts. I watch organizational leaders who want to move into this new world but will not spend adequate resources. They try to do it on their own, often re-inventing the wheel. The way is clear and it is being demonstrated by many who are on the path. The expertise is out there, but you have to access it.
A second barrier to meaningful change is that policy advocates and funders are too quickly satisfied because they are so relieved with any improvement. We need to set our sights higher. (Shields, 2010)
Ombudsmen - an Opportunity for Increased Advocacy
The Administration on Aging’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is active in all states under the authorization of the National Older American’s Act. Funded by the AoA and operated by the National Consumers’ Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (NCCNHR), the National Long- Term Care Ombudsmen Resource Center together with the National Association of State Agencies on Aging (NASUA) provides training and technical assistance to state and local ombudsman. Ombudsman are advocates for residents who work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state and national levels that will improve residents’ care and quality of life. Program Data for FY 2008 indicated that 1,300 paid ombudsmen and over 9,000 certified volunteer ombudsmen investigated over 271,000 complaints, 77% of which were partially or completely resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant. Food—its quality, quantity, variation and choices—was one of the five most frequent complaint topics. (Administration on Aging website, 2009)
Recall the pivotal role of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform in convening the Campaign for Quality Care, which is credited with leadership in the achievement of the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law, OBRA ’87. Also recall that this same organization first brought together the future leaders of the pioneer movement in an educational session at its 1994 – 95 annual meeting. Throughout the years, NCCNHR has continued to work actively with the Pioneer Network and has consistently conducted culture change educational forums for consumers, ombudsmen and other stakeholders. It is important to continue to trust and involve responsible advocacy for resident rights and quality of life and care. At both the state and local level, long term care ombudsmen in many parts of the country have been key players in bringing people together to learn about and to help coordinate joint efforts to promote culture change and to educate consumers.
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