Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 34 No. 3 March 2008
By Elzbieta Sikorska-Simmons, PhD
ABSTRACT
This study examined predictors of staff-supportive organizational culture in assisted living settings. The sample included 294 staff members in 52 facilities. Organizational culture was assessed according to staff perceptions of teamwork, morale, information flow, involvement, supervision, and meetings. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the effects of organizational factors (i.e., facility size, chain membership, ownership, level of care, level of residents’ disability) on staff-supportive organizational culture. More staff-supportive culture was associated with smaller facility size, chain membership, and a higher level of care. These findings point to the importance of organizational factors in shaping a staff-supportive organizational culture.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sikorska-Simmons is Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
The author discloses that she has no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity.
This research was funded by grant #1 RO3 AG-22100-01 from the National Institute on Aging. The author thanks Dr. Ann Christine Frankowski and Ms. Loren Butler for their excellent research assistance, as well as all administrators, residents, and staff members whose participation and cooperation made this research possible. The paper on which this article is based was presented at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in San Francisco, California, November 20, 2007.
Address correspondence to Elzbieta Sikorska-Simmons, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, PH 403P, Orlando, FL 32816-1360; e-mail: esikorsk@mail.ucf.edu.
