The Forgotten Revolution: The Priory Method: A Restorative Care Model For Older Persons

Journey back to the late 1960's and enter the mind and spirit of a visionary woman, Vera McIver. A nurse in her early 50's, new to management and new to caring for the elderly, she dared to think outside the box of traditional care and revolutionize institutional life for frail and ill older persons forever. In 1967 she rebelled against the prevailing system called custodial care - a system that triggered a cascade of effects that led to a loss of pride and dignity and the death of the human spirit. She created an approach called Restorative Care, which she defined as a programme to restore dignity of life to older institutionalized persons within the limits of their capabilities. The Priory Method contained most elements now recognized in 2003 as essential to a progressive residential environment for older persons.

What has happened to this model of care in to-day's practices? Unfortunately the model still remains unknown to many working in long term care. In other instances, the model has appropriately changed and evolved over time as the ideas have permeated the culture of long-term care but few people know the origin or the extent of the ideas. By putting this information into the public domain we hope that readers will be informed and reminded about the salient features of the model. We also hope they will examine their own situations with older persons and use McIver's ideas to humanize them where needed.

As we go to press the health care system is once again in crisis and advances made in the past are at risk of being lost. The shift to a preoccupation with health care costs is challenging some of the innovative ideas found expressed in this book and which have been uccessful. Yet again there is a need for creative and informed leadership if the rights of residents for humane and quality care are to be preserved. This book illustrates how one person might seize opportunities for change provided one has the courage and vision to do so.