Dr. Judith Voelkl Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management – Family Model of Care
Dr. Voelkl and Dr. Dina Battisto (Architecture) have developed an innovative model of care for nursing homes, The Family Model of Care. It is hypothesized that this model promotes quality of life for residents, care staff, and residents’ family members via culture change. They recently completed focus groups with nursing home staff to assess perceptions and concerns regarding the Family Model of Care. Voelkl and Battisto have established a working alliance with White Oak Manor, Inc in Spartanburg, South Carolina and plan to implement the model in one of their nursing homes. Currently they are in the process of preparing grants to secure funding for implementation of this model of care. Dr. Voelkl’s publications include: “Family Making Among Older Adults with Dementia on a Special Care Unit”; “A Family Model of Care: Creating Life Enriching Environments in Nursing Homes”; and “The Family Model of Care”.