Developing and Piloting the Well-Being Toolkit-a Novel Innovation for Systematically Prioritizing Well-Being in Long-Term Care.

Asking and knowing what matters is critical for delivering high-value care to older adults, especially those in long-term care (LTC). We developed the Well-Being Toolkit to help nursing homes systematically understand and prioritize resident well-being. Drawing from multiple disciplines, we created a simple well-being framework with 4 domains-security, meaning, autonomy, and social connection-and paired it with a conversation guide and implementation resources. We describe the iterative development of the Toolkit, including a 6-month pilot in 2 rural nursing homes to assess feasibility, acceptability, and utility. Debrief interviews with staff and leadership indicated that implementing the Toolkit was feasible and acceptable. It improved individualized care and strengthened relationships with residents, families, and staff. Our partners identified 25 specific, well-being-focused interventions that resulted directly from using the Toolkit. Although we identified multiple challenges in implementing the Toolkit, the results suggest this Toolkit is a valuable tool for promoting well-being of residents in LTC.

Duke Scholars

Author Christian Goodwin