VINTON — The Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program recently received a grant from the Ohio Department of Aging for the promotion of person-centered care and culture change in our region’s nursing homes.

Culture change is a national movement designed to transform the way we think about and provide care to individuals, whether they are living independently, in an assisted living community or in a nursing home. The goal of culture change is to move from an institutional model of care to a person-centered model, in order to create a more home-like environment. Person-centered living, no matter where someone lives, should promote the opportunity for the individual to direct their life to the greatest extent possible.

On Monday, July 23, the AAA7 Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will sponsor a meeting for families of nursing home residents and those interested in creating a better future for themselves and their loved ones as they age. The luncheon meeting will be held from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Ewington Church of Christ in Christian Union, located at 176 Ewington Road in Vinton, Ohio. The AAA7 is collaborating with the church on the event and working closely with Pastor Chris Johnson. Interested individuals will be invited to participate in an informal discussion about the creation of a new culture of care in nursing homes. Refreshments will be served.

To register, please contact Kaye Inoshita, AAA7 Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program director, at 1-800-582-7277.