Honoring Women in Long Term Care
The field of caregiving is often dismissed as a field where there is “low-skilled” labor. This stereotype can perpetuate low wages and poor working conditions. When combined with the fact that the majority of staff are women, many of whom are women of color, we as a society have an issue that needs to be addressed. In reality, caregiving is a complex profession that requires specialized knowledge, the ability to manage a dynamic environment, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and strength.
Long-term care has been led, supported, and innovated through the efforts of women. Here are some women who have inspired us within our field.
Dr. Keren Brown Wilson
Determined to improve the conditions that her mother lived in during her final years in a nursing home, Dr. Wilson sought to build a revolutionary model of care for older adults and those with disabilities. She brought her vision of independence, autonomy, and dignity to fruition when she built the first assisted living facility, Rackleff House, in Oregon in 1981. Her innovative approach created a new sector that has changed aging. She continues to innovate today through Age+, a foundation that has developed a multi-generational, sustainable network of resources to support vulnerable older adults, particularly in rural and suburban areas.
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Kubler-Ross, broke barriers by challenging the taboo of discussing death and end-of-life experiences. Her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, compiled her experiences from talking with people who were dying and established the now well-known stages of end of life (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). These were later translated into the stages of grief.
Dr. Beverly Malon
Dr. Malone is the CEO of the US National League of Nursing and was the first African-American general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing. She is an advocate for quality healthcare and the role nurses play in ensuring safety, quality, and culturally competent care. She was on President Bill Clinton’s Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry has received the Florence Nightingale Award and has been inducted into the Home Care and Hospice Hall of Fame.
Mary Mahoney
Mary Mahoney was the first Black woman to complete nurse training, in 1879. She was one of the first Black members of the American Nurses Association. She was also one of the first women to register to vote following the ratification of the 19th amendment. Black women have been integral in developing the caregiving field to where it is today. Their expertise is vital to successful caregiving facilities and plans and should be recognized.
SPOTLIGHT ON: OREGON OFFICE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities who live in community-based care settings. We believe that everyone in a long term care community deserves to be treated with dignity – whether staff, family, friend, or vendors.
We are very happy to have met with staff and volunteers from Oregon’s Long Term Care Ombudsman’s office to learn about their approach to resident dignity advocacy. See an excerpted video of our recent conversation with volunteer Ombudsperson, Sarah Suby.
JOIN OUR NEXT LIVEWELL TRAINING COHORT TO IMPROVE QUALITY WHILE YOU BOOST STAFF SATISFACTION AND RETENTION!
JOIN US AT OUR MONTHLY MEET-UPS
Virtual LiveWell Meet Up: Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 10:00am-10:30am.
Let's Talk Person-Centered Care
Person-centered care is at the heart of what we do with the LiveWell Method. Building on our conversations with the Oregon Long Term Care Ombudsman’s office, we want to focus this month on how residents can actively participate in their care. Treating residents as experts in their own care is vital to understanding their needs and expectations.
We’d love to see your faces and hear your voices at our LiveWell Meet-Ups! We’re building community by creating a forum for staff to get to know peers, give and get advice, and build camaraderie by sharing challenges and successes. Also, let us know what you're interested in at the link below!
Happy Spring!
— Barbara, Steve, Trisha, Andy, Bowen, Marcus, Leah, and Judy