Barbara Brotman’s article “A toast to independence” describes her mother’s challenges in being able to drink vodka at a nursing home. She shares this personal story as a wake-up call to the Baby Boomer generation of how today’s nursing facilities, originally built around a hospital model of care, limit personal choice and freedom.

I am happy to report that many long-term care professionals are already part of the growing “pioneer movement” to make our facilities less like hospitals and more like real homes. Among the positive elements of this “culture change” initiative are resident-directed daily schedules, restaurant style dining programs, spa-like bathing areas, smaller “households” within a building that contain individually-decorated rooms, and many recreation programs involving pets, children and community groups.

These nursing facilities truly are the residents’ homes, and we believe that every effort should be made to make them as comfortable and home-like as possible. As a profession, we are extremely dedicated to doing all that we can to promote resident independence, individuality and choice through innovative health programs and person-centered care. To learn more about Illinois’ growing culture change initiative, visit the Illinois Pioneer Coalition’s Web site at www.illinoispioneercoalition.org.