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Issue Brief: Changing Nursing Home Culture

About a third of those turning 65 in 2010 will need nursing home care during their lifetimes. Yet so many people dread the thought of spending their last days or years in a nursing home. This is because they aren’t aware of the creative alternatives being developed for those needing such care – facilities such as “Green Houses” that are resident-centered, less institutional and more home-like.

This issue brief, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, notes that older people want more control, individuality and continuity in long-term care arrangements. They want a setting that allows them to make decisions for themselves on when to get up, eat breakfast, take a bath, go to bed. They want to be able to choose activities that are interesting to them -- reading a book, listening to music, taking a walk, dancing, telling stories.

The "culture change" movement is working to provide facilities that meet these desires. In the forefront is the Pioneer Network, an umbrella organization representing a variety of stakeholders, including nursing home providers, regulators, consumers and academics.

The movement is important to policymakers. Public funding provides more than 60 percent of nursing home payments. Yet to make these resident-friendly changes more widespread, state laws may need to be overhauled, and both state and federal reimbursement mechanisms may need to be changed.

The issue brief reports on the challenges being faced by those trying to change the nursing home culture, and some of their successes.The publication includes a list of expert sources and helpful websites. To download, click here or go to www.allhealth.org/publications/Long-term_care/Changing_the_Nursing_Home_Culture_79.pdf

 

50 Ways to Implement Health Reform: State Challenges and Federal Assistance


What challenges need to be overcome by the states to implement various provisions in the health reform law? This briefing, cosponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, looked into how the states and the federal government are working together to implement the law -- both near-term provisions, such as high-risk pools, as well as other provisions farther down the road, such as setting up exchanges and instituting changes to Medicaid eligibility.

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New Toolkit -- Fresh Ideas for Reporting on Health Reform


Now that health reform is law, reporters covering this subject have a new challenge: keeping readers, viewers and listeners engaged through the long implementation process. This new toolkit from the Alliance for Health Reform will help. Features story ideas from seasoned reporters and links to dozens of resources. Also included: list of experts with contact information and helpful websites. To download, click here.

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Completely updated -- "Covering Health Issues" guide


"Covering Health Issues," the Alliance's popular 246-page guide to key health policy topics, has been completely updated. Each chapter now reflects the relevant provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. To see the table of contents, click here.

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New Issue Brief -- The Future of Children's Health Coverage


This issue brief details the children's coverage expansions in the new health reform law and also the law's potential to strain existing coverage programs for children. Written by Lisa Swirsky of the Alliance for Health Reform and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To download, click here.

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Toolkit-- Legal Challenges to the Health Reform Law


Twenty-one states and the National Federation of Independent Business have filed lawsuits challenging the new health reform law's constitutionality. On what grounds do reform opponents challenge the new law? What are the chances that any of these lawsuits might succeed? This toolkit from the Alliance for Health Reform, written by the Alliance’s Kevin Arts, addresses both questions. Includes key facts, background, links to specially selected articles and a list of experts with contact information. To download, click here.

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