Adventures in Transformation: Stories from the Journey
Does a change from an institutional appearance to one more reflective of a home really make a difference to our residents? The Clearwater Nursing and
As the residents’ excitement was building, the Institute for Caregiver Education initiated education for Neighborhood Development, Neighborhood Teams and Neighborhood Meetings. The residents were very involved and liked what they were hearing. As the physical changes began to happen, the residents were right there inspecting and offering their comments throughout the process. During this time, the home’s administrator, Steve Kelly, was involving the residents in a Food Committee and having frequent meetings to learn more about what they wanted and desired. The residents responded and change began to happen. The transformation of the residents’ demeanor was obvious. They would greet people at the door and offer to show them around their home. When entering the home, visitors would be greeted by multiple smiling residents. During the home’s open house, many residents volunteered to be part of the groups giving tours. The residents mingled with the guests and discussed their experiences and excitement.
“After all the painting and decorating was completed on each neighborhood, a female resident approached the Social Service Director. She told the Social Worker that she needed some things from Wal-Mart. The Social Worker told her she would be happy to take her the following week. The resident insisted that she needed to go that day. The Social Worker was curious about the sudden urgency and asked the resident why she needed to go that day. The resident told her that since her home looked so pretty, she wanted to start looking good too. She wanted to go to Wal-Mart to buy make-up and nice things for her hair. She told the Social Worker that she wanted to start doing her hair and putting on makeup every day when she got up.”
