On Friday, October 20, 2017, The Knolls of Oxford Activities Director, Suzanne House, the staff and residents received a Certificate of Excellence and a robotic companion pet cat for promoting preference-based care by honoring preferences that enhance the quality of life for their residents from the Scripps Gerontology Center Preference Based Living team.

Miami University's Scripps Gerontology Center’s project, “Incorporating the Preferences for Everyday Living into Ohio’s Nursing Homes to Improve Resident Care,” is funded to partner with nursing home providers seeking to deliver person-centered care by honoring their residents’ preferences for everyday living. Translating research into practice is a hallmark of the Preference Based Living team.

The team partnered with the Knolls of Oxford, to pilot test a novel communication intervention - preferences for activities and leisure (PAL) cards with their skilled nursing residents. PAL cards provide at a glance information about a resident’s background and important preferences for daily life. Staff at the Knolls of Oxford report that PAL cards are helpful because they promote more personalized care. Residents felt that their voices were heard, which made them feel like a person. The cards spark conversations between staff, volunteers, and community members, contributing to a greater sense of connectedness.