Any perspective will evolve, diminish and adjust in accordance with the changing nature of the subject matter that is being perceived.  Because the standards in the long term care working and living environment are ever changing, I find that my perspective may have subtle adjustments with each new case.

Standards of care for quality of life, quality of care, culture change, physical function, fall prevention, restraint management and other areas of long term care have guided my perspective over the years.

Facility leadership has the greatest chance to influence a facility's culture. A nursing home administrator has no more important role than to create an atmosphere of empowerment and accountability. When I think about when I have been at my best or when I have observed the most productive work environments;  the adjectives that come to mind to describe an effective administrator are as follows: a leader, a facilitator, a teacher, a resourceful manager, an active team member, a good listener, a fun and involved administrator who understands and respects each team member's role in delivering care.

The concept of teamwork has been the foundation of my management style since day one. The relationships between staff, staff and residents, as well as administration and family members are all vital to any team's success. 

The challenges in long term care are many and each facility must not lose sight of the importance of how to operate as a cohesive team, both when things are running smoothly and when things get off track.

The human service nature of long term care requires excellent team building skills as well as an unyielding commitment to providing comprehensive customer service to everyone involved.

The operation of any facility does not rest solely on clinical outcomes.  In my opinion, knowledge of the overall operations and systems can formulate a more precise interpretation of how care and services have been delivered.