PAL Cards

Between July 2020 and July 2021, the Preference Based Living Team ran our third PAL Card Quality Improvement Project (QIP). This report presents our findings from the project, including strategies for success, provider insights, and a new feature for the PAL Cards. View the infographic to learn more about the project’s impact on both providers and residents.

PAL Cards provide a quick and easy tool to capture and share information about a community member’s background and preferences for daily life. View this tip sheet to learn how to create PAL Cards for people served by your organization.

The PELI PAL Card Interview asks about a person’s preferences for daily activities and leisure. The interview comes with instructions and covers 34 different topics.

This version of the PELI PAL Card Interview contains the eight MDS activity and leisure items with additional follow-up questions. It should be noted that all previous PAL Card work has been done with the full 34-item PELI PAL Card Interview and it may be difficult to create a PAL Card from the limited information this version provides.

Use this simple template, an editable Microsoft Word document, to create individualized PAL Cards.

Download and print the icon key to assist you in utilizing the Communication Preferences feature of the PAL Card.

View of a variety of PAL Card examples.

This short video shows the steps to create a PELI PAL Card. Using the PAL Card is a great way to share resident preference information among staff, and foster a greater sense of community for those living and working in your organization.

This brief tip sheet provides guidance on obtaining the additional background information needed to complete the PAL Card bio section. Download and print this tip sheet to complete while doing the PAL interview with residents.

We have found that the PAL Cards are most successful when all care team members are informed of their presence and how they are to be used. This script will help you communicate the presence and use of PAL Cards in your community.

This sample letter can be sent to family members to let them know you’re implementing PAL Cards in your community, what the purpose is, and how they can help.