The Green House Style Project Design

The proposed new 36-bed nursing facility, designed around the Green House Project model, addresses all the physical shortcomings of the existing aged facility. The new complex includes three individual homes for 12 residents each connected with a central corridor to other shared spaces including access to the public school. Each home includes kitchen, dining, and social gathering areas. The patient rooms have private bathrooms and windows to the outdoors. The buildings are equipped with modern technology allowing for seamless use of electronic health records in each part of care. The homes have secured and monitored access to the public-school complex which also includes a wellness center to be utilized for Logan Manor physical therapy as well.  It is an easy, climate-controlled walk or wheel chair ride to observe music, theater or sporting events. Residents can watch elementary school students at play in the adjacent play area or observe sports practices outside on nearby practice fields. In very close proximity is a storm shelter for the safety of all residents and staff.

This model for nursing homes is backed by more than 15 years of evidence-based research supporting that it is a viable culture change model for quality of care, quality of life and financial sustainability. There are more than 280 Green House homes around the country delivering outstanding life for elders and staff. Research has indicated higher quality outcomes, attractive revenues, strong occupancy, and cost performance. This model is a de-institutionalization effort that restores individuals to a home in the community.  It is self-contained, like a private home, providing a private bedroom and full bathroom for each resident. The physical space is not meant to be “homelike” but rather be a “home.” Certified nursing staff members reside in each home and provide a wide range of assistance including personal care, activities, meal preparation and service, housekeeping and laundry. The nurses’ relationships with the elders are based on person-directed care. This model has proven to increase occupancy rates and revenues in organizations across the country, while maintaining operating costs equivalent to a traditional nursing home. 

Green House style elders compared to a group of nursing home residents reported improved quality of life in seven areas: privacy, dignity, meaningful activity, relationship, autonomy, food enjoyment, and individuality as well as emotional well-being. We expect to experience similar outcomes with the implementation of the new skilled nursing home project in Logan, but also expect the added benefit of intergenerational indirect and direct contact. Improved quality of life for residents of the senior living facility through increased privacy, access to amenities standard to any home environment including a private ADA-compliant restroom, increased activity involvement especially with youth through the intergenerational connection, and improved food enjoyment with foods being prepared within the home rather than an institutional setting. Improved quality of care with access to a more robust wellness center with dedicated physical therapy equipment, increased direct care time with staff, and safer living environments designed to care for physically impaired persons. More satisfied employees selecting Logan Manor Community Health Services as an employer of choice with improved physical working conditions, increased variety of duties, and more direct patient interaction. It is not an overstatement to say that the regulatory agencies are making it impossible to keep conventionally designed nursing homes open and feasible to operate. Only through modern redesign of these facilities (such as the Green House Project model) will it be possible to continue offering skilled nursing care in our rural areas.