Flexibility as a management principle in dementia care: The Adards example

Jiska Cohen-Mansfield*, Allan Bester

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Flexibility is an essential ingredient of person-centered care. We illustrate the potential impact of flexibility by portraying a nursing home that uses flexibility in its approach to residents and staff members. Designs and Methods: The paper describes the management strategies, principles, and environmental features used by the Adards nursing home in Australia. Results: Adards' flexibility in daily work and task scheduling promotes both resident and staff autonomy, which in turn allows for higher staffing levels, lower staff turnover, and more typical life experiences for residents than is found in many long-term-care facilities in the United States. Implications: The article provides an example and a basis for future discussion on this topic, with the hope that it will prompt other institutions to expand the level of flexibility in their policies and procedures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)540-544
Number of pages5
JournalGerontologist
Volume46
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Daily scheduling
  • Nursing home
  • Person-centered care
  • Staffing levels
  • Workplace flexibility

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