As long term care professionals, how can we initiate and sustain the cultural changes that are needed to develop a person-centered care environment for people with dementia? How do we educate employees who are caring for residents and families suffering from the challenges of dementia? As leaders in LTC, how do we prepare our staff to meet the ever-changing needs of people as they progress in the stages of dementia? 

This blog will look at building a culture of learning to promote innovation, excellence in care and the commitment to change that is necessary when caring for people with diverse personal needs. 

Learning organizations have been found to be more adaptive to the cycle of change.  Building a learning organization is not something that happens overnight; rather it takes root and grows over time with nourishment from transformational leadership. This blog was designed to stimulate discussion about topics important to leaders in LTC including leadership development, supporting employees' needs through ongoing dementia care education, key indicators of quality care, family perspectives, creating environments that are designed to meet the needs of a person at various stages of the disease process, and research data about care issues. 

It will also investigate how to develop, support and sustain the disciplines of a learning organization to facilitate culture change in a community caring for the aging and people with dementia. 

Kelly Smith Papa, RN, MSN,is the director of education, research and dementia care consulting at the Alzheimer's Resource Center in Plantsville, Conn. She was a fellow in the 2007 Leadership AAHSA Academy.

Her experiences in the field of aging services include being a director of nursing, clinical educator, nursing supervisor and adjunct faculty member at the University of Hartford. She is an officer for the Connecticut Coalition for Culture Change.

Kelly has presented at seminars for healthcare professionals on topics including creativity in staff development, person-centered care, culture change, dementia care specialist, S.A.F.E. Response Techniques in Crisis Situations & trade; and leadership development. She has authored multiple books and articles focused on creativity in staff development and training solutions for long-term care staff.