Abstracts

LEAP:  Improving the Senior Living Workforce
Investigators: Jayne Schaefer
Funding Sources: Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging; Health Resources and Services Administration; Life Services Network

Summary
The need to train, recruit, and retain qualified health care professionals, and paraprofessionals in geriatrics and long-term care (LTC) is escalating in proportion to the growth of an aging population requiring LTC and services in their communities. A LTC workforce crisis is expected to spread over the next two decades due to such factors as competition for the same potential worker pool, the aging registered nurse workforce, the lack of adequate training for health care workers, and increased acuity of LTC facility residents.

The purpose of this evaluation study is to examine the impact of LEAP, a Workforce Initiative Development and Retention Program, on outcome variables for LTC nursing staff, residents, and communities. These outcome variables include:

• leadership behaviors
• organizational climate
• work empowerment
• job satisfaction
• leadership effectiveness
• work effectiveness
• staff turnover/stability rates
• resident satisfaction with health care and nursing management
• resident quality of life
• selected quality indicators such as the number of health deficiencies

Train-the-trainer workshops began in October 2002 to reach a state and national audience. LTC communities implementing LEAP participated in baseline, six-month, and annual evaluations. External funding through Health Resources and Services Administration supports national and state workshops targeting communities with high public aid and government-supported residents, enhancement of LEAP components (such as Web courses), and expanded evaluation efforts (five-year longitudinal study).

In the nearly 40 communities that have completed six-month and 12-month post-LEAP surveys, nursing staff members report significantly improved job satisfaction, greater feelings of work empowerment, positive feelings about their organizations, and increased work effectiveness. Of value to the communities has been the ability to identify characteristics of effective nurse leaders through the program evaluation mechanisms. Resident satisfaction measures have also reflected these improvements.

Communities that implemented LEAP in 2001 and 2002 show an average decline of 38% in the number of health deficiencies in 2003 and 2004. This is in contrast with their state averages that actually showed average increases of 71% during the same period. Additionally, LTC organizations that have additional resident quality improvement efforts underway have found LEAP a key enhancement to their existing programs.

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Quality of Life Across Senior Living Communities
Investigators: Scott King and Richard Shank
Funding source: Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging

Summary
The initial purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive methodology to assess the quality of life of older adults in all Mather LifeWays community and residential settings. The ongoing purpose of the study is to identify key areas in which to improve customer and resident satisfaction through services provided by Mather LifeWays. Residents of our senior residences, customers from our Cafés, and employees are project participants. Unique to our surveys and reports are the composite, "Overall Quality Score," quality of life domains, and CARE Action Charts used by managers to design and prioritize annual individual action plans.

In 2004, Whole-Person Wellness domains were incorporated into the surveys and reports. We have also recently begun exploring ways to disseminate our tools and methods to address the great need in the field for a practical survey and action planning process that goes beyond those tools that merely emphasize satisfaction with services.

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The National Whole-Person Wellness Survey
Principal Investigator: Perry Edelman, PhD

To learn more, please click here.

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The Senior Living Whole-PERSON Wellness Survey
Principal Investigator: Perry Edelman, PhD

To learn more, please click here.

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The Senior Living Whole-COMMUNITY Wellness Survey

Principal Investigator:  Perry Edelman, PhD

Summary

This ongoing study assesses the inputs, processes, and outcomes of whole-person wellness programs by collecting information from residents, staff, and administrators as well as via observations of how residents use spaces and rooms.  These data provide a comprehensive look at how senior living communities use resources to create a “Culture of Wellness”, and can help communities learn how to improve the well-being of residents, staff, and the organization. 

If you would like to learn more about this study, contact Perry Edelman, Director of Outcomes Research, at the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging by telephone at (847) 492.6708 or e-mail pedelman@matherlifeways.com.

 

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Powerful Tools for Caregivers Online
Investigator: Linda Hollinger-Smith

Summary

The Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging is evaluating a Web-based education program for family caregivers through a grant from the American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care. Originally offered as a community-based program focused on enhancing self-care skills, Powerful Tools for Caregivers has been adapted for 24/7 accessibility through the Internet. A total of 200 employed caregivers from three Fortune 100 companies, including IBM Corporation, Texas Instruments, and Exxon Mobil, are taking part in this pilot project. In addition to the self-guided, Web-based course, two live options are offered weekly to participants, including a Web chat and a phone conference. Evaluation of caregiver and productivity outcomes is being conducted through surveys completed by participants. This pilot project represents a first-of-its-kind educational program for employed caregivers.

If you are interested in learning more about this innovative program, e-mail Jon Woodall at jwoodall@matherlifeways.com.