Georgia State University’s Gerontology Institute has received $1.6 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Georgia State Survey Agency for a three-year training and development project to improve the state’s nursing homes.

This project, called “Building Resources for Delivering Person-Centered Care in Georgia Nursing Homes,” builds on the work done by the nonprofit Culture Change Network of Georgia, which supports culture change and person-centered care in long-term care services and support organizations.

The multiyear project will be led by Jennifer Craft Morgan, assistant professor of gerontology, and Elisabeth O. Burgess, director of the Gerontology Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State.

The team will develop a program to improve the quality of life of nursing home residents in Georgia, including those living with dementia, by providing resources, as well as staff development and training, to the state’s 374 nursing homes.

“Nursing homes do not always have adequate support and resources to improve the education of their staff and to sustain a robust continuous quality improvement cycle,” Morgan said. “Residents of nursing homes can experience loss of autonomy, independence and loneliness when care isn’t tailored to their personal needs and preferences.”

Burgess added: “Culture change has the potential to increase resident choice and empower staff, and is associated with improved care and outcomes for nursing home residents. Residents, families and staff all need to be empowered with resources and education.”

The project will include the following components:

• A three-stage needs assessment of Georgia’s nursing homes.

• Web-based information and resources for Georgia’s nursing homes.

• Stakeholder engagement across the state, providing awareness education on culture change, person-centered care and living with dementia.

• An interactive competency-based online continuing education training for nursing home staff, residents and informal care partners.