Culture change reflects a shift from the "one-size fits-all" traditional medical model to a model that  seeks to improve the quality of life for residents, while fostering an atmosphere of community within the nursing home setting for staff and residents alike.

Culture change is sought by individuals who promote the values and mission of the the Pioneer Network. The Pioneer Network is a loosely associated group of providers, regulators, advocates and elders who hold that nursing homes can serve as the starting point for changing society's vision of aging. Their work is premised on the belief that nursing homes can be good places to live and work. Pioneers seek to improve the quality of life for residents, and to foster an appreciation of the work of those who care for them, by altering the "culture", the sense of community or lack thereof , of the nursing home setting.