Resident-Centered Care in Nebraska

Best Practice to Promote Resident Centered Care
Nebraska, April 2002

Project Description:

The Nebraska Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, together with The Alzheimer’s Association – Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter are undertaking a project called, “Nebraska’s I Support Quality of Life Project,” in order to assist Nebraska’s nursing facilities in looking at ways in which they can improve the quality of life for their residents. The Project’s Steering Committee has chosen 10 nursing facilities as Founding Members to participate in the project for 2002. This project was funded by Elder Abuse Prevention funds and is coordinated by Geri Hepp, Program Director of the Alzheimer’s Association (and former State Long-Term Care Ombudsman!!).

The purposes of the project are to: (1) enhance the capability of nursing facilities in the prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation; (2) highlight the quality of life initiatives that are current practices in Nebraska’s nursing facilities; (3) provide the motivation for the implementation of new quality of life initiatives in 2002; and (4) to introduce the concept of resident-centered planning and care to Nebraska’s nursing facilities and emphasize resident dignity and the importance of a dignified and individualized approach to meeting resident needs. Resident-centered planning and care is currently being used successfully at Crestview Home in Bethany, Missouri. Crestview’s Administrator, Eric Haider, and the Director of Nursing, Margie Haider, are assisting the project by providing education on their methods and approaches.

The three key components of the project are: (1) a commitment by each chosen facility to have three facility representatives make a day’s on-site visit to the Crestview facility; (2) a commitment to implement at least two quality of life initiatives in their facility during 2002; and (3) an agreement to discuss their experience and successes to their peers at various speaking engagements during the year.

Project Impact:

The expected impact of “Nebraska’s I Support Quality of Life Project” is that the concept of resident-centered planning and implementation of culture change within Nebraska’s nursing facilities will be successful and be the beginning of a groundswell that will build and expand each year.

The expected impact will be: (1) an improvement in the overall quality of life and quality of care that residents experience in Nebraska’s nursing facilities; (2) an enhancement in the capability of nursing facilities to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation; and (3) a reduction in the incidence of transfer and discharge of residents from nursing facilities due to behaviors that facility staff find difficult to manage.

Contact Persons:

Cindy Kadavy, Nebraska State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
cindy.kadavy@hhss.state.ne.us
Phone:  (402) 471-4684        Fax:  (402) 471-4619   

Geri Tucker Hepp, Program Director – Alzheimer’s Association-Lincoln/Greater Nebraska
geri.hepp@alz.org
Phone:  (402) 420-2540        Fax:  (402) 420-2541