Are You Ready for a Culture of Citizenship?

Can We Talk? A Culture of Citizenship

Verna Cavey, Resident, Independent Living, Christian Living Communities

Moriah Bernhardt, Senior Director of Rhythms Programs for CLC-Cappella

We were just going to write a garden-variety article and then decided it would be better if we bounced some ideas around with you -- our colleagues who have years of experience and whose insights we trust.

We (Moriah and Verna) have recently presented at several state conferences and are preparing for a national presentation. And every time our audience has reshaped our thinking and our questions. Our “presentation” became instead an invigorating collaboration with insightful folks in the aging field.

The subject is resident-driven or resident-directed communities, or take it to the next level of resident citizenship. (In her book, Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Living – A Mindset, Jill Vitale-Aussem refers to “citizenship” in community). In other words, residents are no longer perceived as customers or consumers, but rather active citizens of the community, and staff are not seen as “serving” the residents.

There is no textbook on this, nor is there a neat list of resident-directed communities. We have only our very positive experience to guide us. And yet, when we talked to conference participants, we too often heard that resident-directed communities are difficult and too scary to create. So we ask you:

What are the obstacles which get in the way of creating these communities?

What resources or information about resident-driven communities are needed? What resources have you found which have been helpful to you?

Do you know of a community which you feel has the characteristics of a resident-driven community?

In a conversation with Joanne Rader, one of the founders of Pioneer Network, she explained that the philosophy of resident-driven communities has been taught and practiced for 50 years. “Why,” she asked, “has it taken so long to make it a reality?” Her concerns echo ours and we couldn’t stay quiet any longer.

Recently, we listened to an interview with Cameron Camp who spoke about resident-driven communities (in his Montessori work in dementia care) and stated, “it’s about joy.” We recognize the health benefits - cognitive, physical, and spiritual - of such communities with a culture of citizenship. They are purposeful and residents live fulfilling lives, contributing their unique gifts. On the practical side, citizen-driven communities have low turnover, higher occupancy, and amazing marketability.

So, why does a resident-driven practice still sit on the shelf 50 years later? Why the resistance? Why the disconnect between reality and perception? Help us make sense of this.

Click here to read more , and to see how you can help Verna and Moriah 'make sense of this'...

Have you finished the article? Now check out the document, Continuum from Provider-Directed to Citizenship Model, and then Verna and Moriah invite you to complete this short poll.

And yes, the responses will be shared with you. In November, Verna and Moriah will be back to offer a summation of their findings, based on what you helped create. They will also discuss the tools which can assist you in creating your own resident-directed community.

Tell us where you think your community is on the Continuum

Provider-directed

Select

Staff-directed

Select

Person-directed

Select

Resident-Directed/Driven

Select

Citizenship

Select

Members of the Reimagining Dementia Coalition shared their work during the June symposium, Envisioning the Future: Dementia Care 2021 & Beyond. Check out what they've been up to since then!

Nancy Nelson and Kat Harley have launched their dangle & dot website and YouTube channel. They are creating a "dementia friendly" social enterprise with the ultimate goal of providing jobs/paid activities for people living with dementia.

Pat and John Sullivan have launched a new website, Dementia Wisdom, which supports readers to be their “wisest and most creative” selves.

LGBTQ Caregiving is a timely new website created by Zander Keig and Jennifer Henius that provides resources, education and services to empower LGBTQ Caregivers and those who care for LGBTQ people to improve their health, mental health and wellness.

And the articles keep coming!

Meet Remember Stuff, the newest member of Pioneer Partner Network, our corporate partnership program.

Life’s Journey, for elders and other individuals living with health challenges, is a collaborative affair with family and care partners providing support throughout the process.

Remember Stuff believes that innovation can foster quality of life for all involved and we have developed a full spectrum of tools and solutions to support the individual and this precious Circle of Purpose & Care.

Find all our Pioneer Partners here.

If you enjoyed reading what Verna had to share in today's article, then you won't want to miss hearing her as she is joined by other residents in the opening session of September's symposium, Engagement Through the Eyes of Residents.

Click here to check out all the sessions as well as the variety of registration rate options.

Episode 10:

Happily Ever Older:

Revolutionary Approaches to Long-Term Care

Join Penny Cook and Moira Welsh, an investigative journalist with the Toronto Star, as they discuss Moira's book, Happily Ever Older. You'll learn the reasons Moira wrote the book, and the extensive research she did on various communities throughout the world where those who live and work are thriving and growing.