Unfolding the Culture Change Map and Locating Ourselves Together

Abstract

One promising aspect of the culture change movement in long-term care is the collective effort to “junk the jargon” to do away with institutional language and instead speak plainly in a way that makes it possible for the voices of elders to be heard. This article was written with that spirit of listening in mind. It was co-authored by a 35-year-old gerontologist and an 87-year-old retired professor of social work and sociology with direct experience as a “patient” in the old long-term care culture. The introduction was written by the elder, and her wisdom and perspective guided the body of the text.

Key Words:

• Culture change
• nursing home