Why a Different Culture Changes How We See Senior Care with Steven Buck of Care Providers Oklahoma
Steven Buck, President and CEO of Care Providers Oklahoma, shares what he and a group of long-term care leaders discovered on a study trip to Vienna, Austria — a week of facility tours, government meetings, and cultural immersion organized through a partnership with Oklahoma Christian University.
Steven reflects on the intentional design choices that give residents access to sunlight and community, the striking contrast between Austrian and American regulatory environments, and what it looks like when an entire system is built around keeping seniors connected to the people around them.
He also shares the moment at Mauthausen concentration camp that reframed why this work matters — when a tour guide's closing story made clear that being visited, being seen, and being surrounded by people who love you is not a comfort. It’s a lifeline.
The trip runs annually, in early December, and is open to care providers, policy experts, CEOs, and facility administrators.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction.
04:22 A university partnership made a Vienna study trip possible.
06:34 The trip runs annually and is open to providers, CEOs, and administrators.
08:02 Austrian facilities integrate seniors into care much earlier and more deliberately.
10:07 Vienna is behind the US in data collection and performance measurement.
11:30 Balcony architecture gives immobile residents direct access to sunlight.
14:02 Community cafes inside facilities invite neighbors to dine with seniors.
18:04 Austrian regulatory standards differ vastly from the American model.
21:04 Austrian civil service places young men aged 18–22 inside long-term care facilities.
24:30 A concentration camp visit reframed the moral weight of caring for seniors.
Resources Mentioned:
Care Providers Oklahoma | Website
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