The happiness initiative: Changing organizational culture to make ‘brilliance’ mainstream in aged care

Abstract

With the ageing of the population, researchers are investigating the experiences of people living and working in residential aged care. Positive organizational scholarship in healthcare (POSH) and its focus on ‘brilliance’ has not been used as a lens for understanding or improving aged care, although the sector prioritizes person-centred, consumer-directed care. In this qualitative case study, through in-depth interviews, a focus group, and observations, we use a POSH lens to explore how forms of leadership, management structures, and human resource practices facilitate positive experiences for both staff and residents. A thematic data analysis identified the importance of authentic leadership in creating a client-centred organizational culture where ‘happiness’ is an explicit core value. Educating and recruiting staff that share this vision, alongside reflective engagement, rituals and symbols, enabled the building of a responsive care culture that facilitated acts of ‘brilliance’ in healthcare.

The Perspectives of Professional Caregivers on Implementing Audio-Based Technology in Residential Dementia Care

“…Sound and, in particular, music is referred to as a universal language [ 58 ] and can facilitate communication and social interactions with residents with aphasia or who have difficulty communicating verbally [ 16 , 22 ]. By adopting a person-centered approach and by engaging in pleasurable experiences with the residents, the care staff can create a positive atmosphere that reduces emotional workloads and contributes to the wellbeing of both the residents and the staff in residential care [ 59 ]. Thus, ABT can offer meaningful audio content to support professional caregivers in including residents in enjoyable and accessible daytime activities by overcoming their challenges with engaging residents in a social setting.…”

How is Brilliance Enacted in Professional Practices? Insights from the Theory of Practice Architectures

“…Collier et al (2019) connected brilliance in home-based palliative care with anticipatory action (proactively addressing individualized needs with families) and flexible adaptability (balancing building relationships with administrative requirements). Client-centred practices that value the happiness of those in aged care are key to brilliance (Miller, Devlin, Buys, & Donoghue, 2019). Elsewhere, health professionals have foregrounded the concept of "team," invoking brilliance as a collective accomplishment that is not possible without being close and attuning to the patient (Crew & Giradi, 2019;Karimi et al, 2017).…”

Positive organisational scholarship in healthcare

“…The articles within this issue address the conceptualisations, methodologies and applications of POSH. For instance, Miller, Devlin, Buys, and Donoghue (2019) situated POSH in aged care – a timely contribution given our ageing populations (WHO (World Health Organization), 2011), the rising demand for aged care (Conroy & Turpin, 2016) and inquiries into ‘abysmal’ care (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 7.30, 2018; Burnie, 2019; Health and Social Care Committee, & Housing Communities and Local Government Committee, 2018).…”

“…Given the challenge of sustaining participant involvement over long periods – especially healthcare personnel – participatory methodologies and research methods might be helpful (Palmer et al, 2019; Stewart et al, 2019). There is also a need for research to clarify how to ‘embed concepts from positive psychology… into day-to-day practices… And… the ‘how’ of implementing a happiness-focussed initiative in aged care’ (Miller et al, 2019). Equally important is research on the role of the ‘paradox mindset phenomena… to better understand positive deviance’, including tensions between ‘positive and negative’ deviance (Crewe & Girardi, 2019).…”