Although federal policy declared its good intentions with the Older American Act (OAA) in 1965, that the elderly should be entitled to independence and the freedom of individual personal
initiative in the planning and managing of their lives, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the elder care industry stepped outside of the acute care model box with Medicaid funding alternatives,
such as home care and community-based services. Culture Change in Elder Care aims to kick the process of culture change up a notch as person-centered care becomes not just an aspiration, but
the standard of care. Twelve chapters are divided into four parts: history; values; policy; and foundations for implementation. They explore why the goal has not been reached yet, discuss what
change looks like from a business point of view, offer stories from the elderly, and describe state leadership models. Ronch and Weiner provide a resource for leaders, planners, researchers,
business people, managers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, families, and elders in their quest to stimulate innovations in research and practice and promote culture change in the work place,
health care system, and ultimately in society’s perception of elders. There are many figures and tables, about the editors, contributors, and references. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc.,
Portland, OR (booknews.com)
