I bet you don't think of a contemporary style nursing home when you hear the words "green houses?"  Green House homes are small homes that are designed to accommodate up to 12 seniors.  These homes provide nursing care and clinical support in a home-like environment while maintaining a sense of well-being and quality of life for the residents.  Green House homes are designed to look like a private residence, with additional bedrooms so each resident has their own.  The living room, dining room, and kitchen are all shared quarters.  The staff eat all meals with the residents, and families are encouraged to join in as well.  The philosophy is to provide good medical care and improve or sustain a quality of life through person-centered care.  Currently, there are 10 states participating in the Green House initiative.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides grant funding for the initiative.  Green House homes are developed and operated by long-term care organizations in partnership with The Green House Project and NCB Capital Impact.

I really like the concept of "treating the person" not the disease.  Of course, people's medical conditions should be addressed but we shouldn't let our residential facilities get stuck in the rut of just taking care of people medically.  I once worked for a nursing home that could house over 200 residents, and I worked with some great staff members who really focused on "treating the person."  So, while a smaller residential home might provide more of an opportunity for staff to provide more personal attention, overall I think it all of our responsibility as caregivers to provide the utmost care and quality of life for our seniors.