Culture Change in Nursing Homes: How Far Have We Come? Findings From The Commonwealth Fund 2007 National Survey of Nursing Homes

Although The Nursing Home Reform Act, passed in 1987, established residents’ rights and quality standards for nursing homes nationwide, serious concerns remain about quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents. The “culture change” movement is working to radically transform nursing home care, and help facilities transition from institutions to home. This report presents results from the Commonwealth Fund 2007 National Survey of Nursing Homes, fielded to examine the penetration of the culture change movement at the national level and measure the extent to which nursing homes are adopting culture change principles and practicing resident-centered care. Results are mixed, with much room for improvement. The survey highlights important lessons, including the finding that the more a nursing home has adopted culture change principles, the greater the benefits that accrue to it, in terms of staff retention, higher occupancy rates, better competitive position, and improved operational costs. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This and other Fund publications are available online at www.commonwealthfund.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 1131.