Changing the face of long-term care - again!

I think we can agree that we want people we love to live in their own homes for as long as they can. When that is no longer an option, we want our loved ones to get the best care in a setting that is as close as possible to home. Our biggest fear is that people we love will end up in an institutional environment that is not as comfortable as home. Where they will feel isolated and lonely. Where they will lose their independence. And where the staff will not be attentive to our loved one’s unique needs.

Episcopal Homes understands the concerns society has about today’s nursing homes. It is our mission to change how long-term care is perceived by changing how it is done. What is our solution? Create an environment that mirrors the experience of living in a private home with family caregivers!

To that end, between mid-2007 and 2009, we invested $11 million in re-imagining Episcopal Church Home and its model of care. Over those 18 months, the building was transformed into a community of six Households. Each Household has its own kitchen and dining area, living room with fireplace, lounges for visiting, and a private room for every resident. At the same time, the Church Home staff went through extensive training on the Household Model of Care in which residents call the shots, much as they did in their own homes. Our Households changed the face of long-term care. We took the “nursing” out of “nursing home” and just made it HOME.

But we are always looking for a better way, and we’ve found one.

Episcopal Homes will soon begin construction of certified Green House homes that are designed to look and feel like a real home, making it a place you and your loved one want to be. Green House homes are limited to 10 residents, so that they remain flexible and have a warm feel. Elders have the comfort of private rooms and decide when they want to eat. The family-like atmosphere of the common areas is a space to socialize and eat a home-cooked meal. At Green House homes, our elders are the stars of the show. The resident-to-staff ratio is low. One staffer per five residents. That is the difference between just having health care and having a real “caregiver.”  Research shows that Green House homes have four times more personal and social contact compared to residents of traditional nursing homes. The real evidence show in happier, healthier elders. 

Green House Homes are certified nationwide by The Green House Project to ensure they meet and maintain certain standards, including their small size, home layout, advanced staff training and staff ratios. The Green House Homes make it possible for elders of any ability to lead healthier and happier lives, at the same cost as traditional nursing homes. Episcopal Homes will be the first provider in Minnesota and the third urban Green House Home in the country to offer this new model of care. We are changing the face of long-term care – again!  Learn more about the Green House Project at www.thegreenhouseproject.org.