The Green House concept has been a topic in our industry for more than a decade, but it recently got some attention in The New York Times as an idea worth replicating.
Discussing the idea of a new model for long-term care, the article, “The Green House Effect: Homes for the Elderly to Thrive,” by Jane E. Brody, states that more than 1 million Americans are living in nursing homes and yet few want to live there because of the belief that they’re sterile, institutionalized, and depressing places. Of course, that sentiment doesn’t apply to all assisted living environments but it’s a perception that clearly exists as I’ve read statements like that more than once in articles about senior living.
The Green House model is presented as an alternative with its home-like setting that’s designed for 10-12 residents with private rooms and bathrooms combined with open common spaces, as well as professional nursing support.
During a breakout session at the 2014 Environments For Aging Conference in Anaheim, Calif., speakers Margaret Calkins, president, I.D.E.A.S. Inc., and Susan Frazier, chief operating officer, The Green House Project, shared some of the lessons the organization had learned over a decade of work.
Feedback from residents included integrating the units into a residential setting so they felt like part of a neighborhood, including outdoor spaces where seniors could be actively engaged, and providing access to natural light especially in the hearth areas and resident rooms. The Times article points out other successful design elements, such as the communal dining table.
The underlying theme is that features like these create an environment where seniors can thrive.
As the Green House concept and design principles are embraced in the mainstream, how can the design and architecture community take these lessons into more senior living spaces?
Some of the trends we’ve covered in Environments For Aging this year show that some of these ideas are already gaining in popularity, such as on-site gardens, light-filled common rooms, and remodeled cafeterias turned into cafés.
As more communities focus on improving care and adding amenities to stay competitive in this evolving market, these design elements can go a long way in changing the perception of care, whether in a Green House, assisted living facility, or other type of senior living environments.
