Why THE GREEN HOUSE® Model of Care? Ask Deb.

“In my last blog, I talked about nursing home models of care,” says Deb Veit (our Director of Community Relations and a licensed LPN). “In early 2009, Episcopal Church Home graduated from the conventional Medical Model of Care to a Household Model of Care that puts the wants and needs of individual residents at the center of everything.
 
“Over an 18-month period that began in late 2007, the Church Home’s entire staff underwent extensive training while $11million  was being invested in re-imagining the building around the six distinct Households (with all private rooms) that would replace our conventional hospital-like nursing stations. When the work on the building was done, our staff was ready to go and each Household began dancing to its own tune – a tune written (and re-written every week) by each Household’s staff and residents. For our residents, it was the closest thing yet to staying in their own homes with family caregivers. They still got to call the shots as they always had about when to eat breakfast, when to bathe, and how they wanted to spend their days. It was (and continues to be) a revelation for our residents and their families.
 
“When we began planning our Midway Village senior apartment complex, expanding our skilled nursing and memory care capabilities was a key objective. We knew that we wanted to continue with our Household model, but was there a way to make it even better? The answer came from former board member Lois Cutler, Ph.D., a research gerontologist at the University of Minnesota: THE GREEN HOUSE^® Model of Care. Mary Lieber, our Director of Nursing, calls it ‘Our Household Model on steroids.’ It is.”

Q: How will Green House homes differ from your current Households?

A: Points of difference:

• Green House homes are limited to 10 residents. Our current Households serve from 12 to 18 residents.
• In Green House homes, resident rooms surround a central hearth, family-style dining area, and an open kitchen. In our current Households, the hearth, dining area, and kitchen are just down the hall.
• In Green House homes, all meals are prepared from scratch in their own kitchens. Residents and their caregivers dine together. In our current Households, meals are prepared in a main kitchen and served from each Household’s kitchen. Caregivers dine separately.

Q: How will Green House homes be similar to your current Households?

A: Points of similarity:

• • The individual wants and needs of each resident are at center of everything.
  • Residents enjoy their breakfasts and baths on their own schedules.
  • Activities for each week are planned by residents and staff together.
  • Residents have more choices available to them than if they lived in private homes with family caregivers.
  • No resident will ever have to move out if they run out of money! We will work with the family to facilitate a seamless transition to Medical Assistance. The change will not have any effect on the loved one’s quality of life or care. Nearly half of Episcopal Church Home’s residents are on Medical Assistance.

“Episcopal Church Home – The Gardens will be Minnesota’s first and only skilled nursing home to employ the Green House Model of Care,” says Deb. “I’d be happy to send you our brochures about The Gardens and the Green House Model of Care. Just call me at 651-632-8800 and I’ll mail them to you. You can also visit http://www.thegreenhouseproject.org.”

“If you have any questions about senior living options, please call me. Your question could become the topic for a future blog. Thanks!”

https://episcopalhomes.org