Culture change is a social movement to transform long-term care and retirement living towards resident-centered and resident-directed values and practices. Changing the culture of aging requires moving from a medical model of care to a social model of living, and supporting aspects of life that bring joy, meaning, and purpose to those working and living in senior living settings.
Culture change is a process, not a project. The culture change journey involves re-examining current values, beliefs, attitudes, and policies to create a community where everyone thrives.
We at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) can support you on your culture change journey. We provide coaching, education, and resources to empower residents and team members to put living first.
Get started on your culture change journey
Learn more about our culture change coaching services
In the Community
Working on the RIA team has really opened my eyes to how I want to be with my residents at work and how I want to really help them make the most of their day and LIVE to their full potential. I look forward to sharing positive information with the team I work with on the floor and my department. I personally feel more rewarded having a more positive mindset in my job, this experience makes me more aware of how I am doing my job.
— Team member, Culture Change coaching client
Culture Change Programs
Project ECHO
Connect with other organizations who are on the culture change journey. Join this unique “All Teach, All Learn” community.
2025/26 Speakers To Be Announced.
Walk with Me
Walk with Me, a national conference aimed at changing the culture of aging in Canada. Walk with Me is co-hosted by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and CapitalCare in collaboration with partners from across the country. View key learnings from Walk with Me 2024.
Huddle Up!
Introducing the dynamic Huddle Up project – your key to keeping the learning alive throughout the year! Crafted to empower leaders, this resource taps into the wealth of RIA and Ontario CLRI resources, delivering content in bite-sized, user-friendly formats to upskill your team. Whether you prefer a start-to-finish approach or want to cherry-pick what suits your needs, the choice is yours. Huddle Up is a powerful and effortless way to ensure everyone stays synced on essential topics. Dive in, explore, and keep returning as we continuously enrich this ever-growing content library!
