Nursing homes that employed a person-centered care (PCC) philosophy saw higher resident satisfaction than those that didn’t, according to a new study conducted by Kansas State University and the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Kansas that participated in a statewide program called Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas (PEAK 2.0) saw higher quality of life and care for residents. PEAK 2.0 is a Medicaid pay-for-performance incentive program meant to encourage nursing homes to adopt a person-centered care model.
Person-centered care empowers people to help make decisions about the care they receive. The idea is to give care recipients more power over medical treatments and other aspects of their day-to-day lives, such as meals or living preferences.
Data from the Resident Satisfaction Survey for Kansas showed that respondents reported higher satisfaction scores if they lived in a PEAK 2.0 facility, the researchers found. The study, which is slated to be published in the November issue of the The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, examined responses from 6,214 residents at 320 Kansas nursing homes.
“Residents in homes that had fully implemented PCC were more likely to rate their overall quality of life and quality of care highly,” the study noted. “Residents in homes that had fully implemented [person-centered care] also reported higher overall satisfaction.”
Previous studies have also found improvements in both quality of life and care in nursing homes that had implemented person-centered care practices, the researchers said.
Other SNF providers could look to the PEAK 2.0 program as a roadmap to implementing person-centered care.
“This model, or elements of the program, could be implemented by individual homes,” the study explained. “States could also adopt the program and provide financial incentives that have proven effective in attracting homes not normally adopting PCC practices.”
Implementing the program could also help improve a SNF’s financial picture.
“Consumers make choices based on their preferences, and if they are not satisfied with the services, they may elect to go elsewhere,” the researchers said. “This could have financial implications for homes. Thus, the program has benefits not only to residents but also to an organization’s bottom line and reputation.”
Written by Tim Regan
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