Culture Change, Wisdom and Education

Learning and sharing knowledge, growing in our understanding, adding perspectives and even changing our minds takes courage, persistence and an ability to cultivate a curious mind, stand back and be open to listening.

Influencing our collective understanding of person centered care, steering towards joy, being part of a growing number of people and organizations who understand why inclusivity is an essential norm, is a focus as we look at our futures, it requires us to seek information, learn and share.

The Village has well established relationships with progressive academic institutions and individual practitioners across BC, Canada and Europe to bring change agency through new, contemporary and evidence based wisdom and we celebrate every part of that.

In 2020, after listening to staff and Villagers and aligning our vision for an inclusive, joy filled Village, we noticed that most of the ideas and desires support what we (and so many others) call ‘Culture Change’. Culture Change supports the creation of both long and short-term living environments as well as home and community-based settings where both older adults and their care partners are able to express choice and practice self-determination in meaningful ways at every level of daily life.

A key goal of culture change is for elders to feel “at home” wherever they live. This includes creating living spaces that allow for privacy, comfort and personalization. It also includes the development of meaningful relationships among people sharing living environments and between these individuals and care partners who provide assistance and support. A critical vehicle for facilitating relationships between people receiving care/supports and their care partners is the provision of support and nurturing for staff, most particularly those who provide the hands-on care and support in care settings or in the elder’s own home.

Culture change at Kiwanis Village requires changes in fundamental organizational and individual beliefs and philosophies, in practices, in physical environments, in relationships at all levels and in workforce models. These kinds of changes lead to better outcomes for elders, their families, and direct care workers.

We want to be part of the change we want to see in the world.