New approaches to care are giving families more choices than ever before. This article is the second in a three-part series that explores some of the most interesting new developments in long-term care. This week we examine Green House Communities.
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Green House communities represent another model for long-term senior care that prioritizes person-directed care that focuses on residents’ autonomy, dignity and well-being over the one-size-fits-all philosophy common in traditional institutions. The goal is to provide seniors the opportunity to be cared for in a non-institutionalized environment.
The Green House Project focuses on helping companies and individuals convert or build residential homes that can provide high levels of care for individuals who do not wish to be in a nursing home setting. Some of the homes are licensed as nursing homes and others as assisted living communities.
The driving force behind the project is the idea that the current nursing home system tends to create sterile, lifeless environments for our elders, which in turn fosters loneliness and boredom. Fundamental changes to the way senior housing is built and operated can make loved ones’ lives healthier, livelier and more meaningful. There are already more than 100 Green House Project homes in 32 states, with more than 100 more in the works.
How are Green Homes different from traditional senior housing?
- Intimacy: Instead of a traditional group home, a Green House Project community consists of clusters of smaller homes with six to ten senior residents.
- Autonomy: Seniors have their own private room and bathroom; further, they are free from scheduling and able to access social and shared areas of the house at any time, making it truly feel like home.
- Warmth: This is one of the core values of the Green House Project. A warm living situation consists of a layout that encourages social activity, as well as furnishings and décor that provide comfort.
- Smart Technology: Green House communities use smart technology such as adaptive devices, computers, pagers, and ceiling lifts.
- Green Living: In this case, “green” means living within the natural world. Green House homes let in plenty of sunlight, and include plants, garden areas, and outdoor access.
I had the opportunity to tour a Green House community in Phoenix recently and the facility was like a cross between a family home and a college dorm. The community I toured featured four “pods.” Each pod was comprised of seven residents’ all adjacent to a shared kitchen, dining area and recreational/social space. Residents played a role in meal preparation and other community activities. A similar facility is currently under construction closer to home; Fairfield Jewish Elder Services is in the process of building a Green House community.
When I was in Naples, Florida in early March for a board meeting of the Life Care Planning Law Firm Association, our group toured a long-term care facility built on some of these same concepts. The Villa at Terracina Grand featured an assisted living center and a specially designed building for their memory care unit that is successfully deploying all the very latest trends by creating a welcoming, nurturing and family-oriented environment. Touring the facility was a multi-sensory experience. The facility was filled with natural light during the daytime. Green walls were filled with beautiful growing plants. Six massive video screens displayed vivid images of the outdoors that changed to reflect the time of day or night. Therapeutic treatments included a resident-driven approach to memory care based on the philosophy of Maria Montessori as adapted for adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. Patient-centered care (see article 1 in this series) was their operating philosophy. No detail was overlooked. Hallways were color-coded and pictures of families were posted outside each room to help residents find their way.
What is so impressive about Green House communities and facilities like The Villas at Terracina Grand is that they are transforming the way care is delivered to seniors and their families. They are proving that it is possible to deliver high quality care built around the patient’s needs without sacrificing resident autonomy or community. Surprisingly, the cost of care in these communities is very competitive with the cost of more traditional facilities. Our area can expect to see more communities like these popping up in the future. And when they do, don’t be surprised if our staff suggests a look-see if you’re in the market for long-term care services for an elderly loved one.
