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Staff Perceptions of Implementing a Person-Centered Communication Tool in the Nursing Home Setting: PAL Cards
Purpose:
To understand direct care workers' perceptions of the impact of implementing a person-centered communication tool, Preference for Activity and Leisure (PAL) Cards, into care.
Method:
PAL Cards provide at-a-glance information about a nursing home (NH) resident's background and important preferences for activities and leisure. As a quality improvement project, 11 NHs implemented use of PAL Cards in their communities and provided feedback (N = 91 feedback forms received) on their perceptions of impact of PAL Cards on care communication and delivery.
Results:
A variety of NH staff members, across disciplines, were a part of PAL Card implementation. The majority of staff (84%) perceived that PAL Cards helped them start a conversation with a resident and 64% indicated that PAL Cards helped them provide care for a resident.
Conclusion:
PAL Cards are an effective tool for communicating information about NH residents' preferences to staff. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 5-10.].
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