The pandemic threw a harsh light on the lack of autonomy that far too many people experience when receiving care in an institutional setting, and supporting resident choice and decision-making ability has become an important area of reform action.

Jill Vitale-Aussem, president and CEO of Christian Living Communities, argues that it's not enough to focus on resident choice of activities and meals – instead, eldercare leaders must work to foster a true community of citizen-residents who have real ownership and responsibility over what happens in their assisted living community or nursing home.

Vitale-Aussem dives into CLC's experience with the citizenship model, and how fostering a culture that mirrors a neighborhood or town – with all of the shared challenges and collective problem-solving that comes with it – can bring true empowerment and purpose to elders in any care setting.

Explore the tenets of the citizenship model: https://www.pioneernetwork.net/can-we-talk-a-culture-of-citizenship/

Check out Jill's book, "Disrupting the Status Quo in Senior Living: A Mindshift": https://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Status-Quo-Senior-Living/dp/1938870824

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Learn more about The Green House Project: www.thegreenhouseproject.org