PEAK: Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes
PEAK (Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes) has been identifying homes for the past four years that are seeking to improve quality of care for residents and quality of life for the residents and staff through organizational and personal change and growth. The Kansas Department on Aging, responsible for this initiative, has recognized the need for a dual approach: recognition and education.
Since 2002, the K-State Center on Aging has been developing PEAK education materials that support Kansas nursing homes in implementing progressive, innovative approaches to care. In the fall of 2006 this grant moves to the next phase of dissemination, the reporting of process and outcomes. Increasing pressures from many nursing home stakeholders demand attention to what changes may mean for residents, staff and organizations. Predictions of increasing consumer demands and requirements of continually improving quality of care, support the need to turn attention to the continued dissemination of innovative models of care.
The PEAK education initiative is funded through a Title XIX contract supported by the Kansas Department on Aging and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and through matching funds provided by Kansas State University, Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the Kansas Health Care Association, and volunteers from the long term care profession.