See below for some of the things our Elders, their families, and friends are saying about us.
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Testimonials
A Theatre Metaphor for The Green House model
By Ann Wagle, Illiana VA, Danville, IL
As I was thinking about The Green House Model of care relative to the Clinical Support Team (CST), the professions who support the wellness of the elder in partnership with the self managed work team, I was taken back to a recent experience in community theatre where my role in a production of “Hello Dolly” was that of pianist.
As I accompanied, I felt supportive of the cast, yet realizing that my goal was to be “invisible” while facilitating life and character to the music. If a cast member stumbled or forgot their line or musical note, I would cue them and offer additional support until they regained their place in the musical. If they increased the tempo, or took unexpected liberties with the music, my role was to follow them as they led the way through the story of the musical. Of course there are many individuals who are also backstage contributing to the success of the cast. There are those who stand at the edge of the stage providing the necessary prop just as the actor walks on stage. And where would we be without the light and sound folks who assure that those on stage can be heard and seen?
The CST in The Green House Model of care has a similar function to that of the stage/musical pit crew of a theater production. We must be always supportive to the elders so that their voice can be heard and their meaningful lives seen and respected by family and friends. We are to add spirit and hope to their days and provide them the ability to interdependently create the most of each day. The elder is the one in the spotlight, and those who support them, although invisible, are critical to the success of the lives of each elder. In addition, the supporting team finds tremendous gratification in enhancing, sustaining, and providing nurturing hope to the elder.
Betty Schaeffer, “May the movement keep growing”
It has been my pleasure to work in one of the Green House Homes in Palmyra, PA for the past four years. I can say without reservation, that this is indeed the way of the future. Continue reading…Revolutionizing Environment and Transforming Mindset of Long Term Care
- Sarah Hoffman, Shahbaz, Lebanon Valley Brethran Home, Palmyra, PA
Having worked in long term care for the past 12 years, I’ve seen my share of the good, the bad and the ugly. I’ve also had the privilege of working in the Green Houses in Palmyra, PA for the past four years, and truly feel this is how long term care should have been modeled all along. While the environment is a vast improvement to traditional nursing homes and fosters more opportunities for elders to be more active and independent than they could in a traditional setting, that is only one side of the coin. I think what sets the Green House model apart is the deep rooted mission and passion that all staff share to let elders rule. Life doesn’t stop simply because one requires skilled nursing services, and all staff in Green Houses, from the shahbaz (caregiver), to the nurse, to the administration/support team undergo training to recognize this and empower the elders entrusted to our care to thrive and live life to the fullest despite whatever medical needs they have. Instead of having to conform to a schedule built around staff efficiency and convenience, elders in Green Houses truly get to live life on their terms and set their personal routines for each day based on their preferences and needs. As staff, we get to know our elders far better than we ever could in a traditional setting…we truly are family. Because we have more time to spend with the elders, we are able to deeply learn about the entire person and the rich lives they’ve led through the stories they and their families share. This allows us to help our elders create meaningful daily routines and engagement opportunities with not only staff, their families and each other, but their community as well. The Green House model isn’t only revolutionizing environment, it is transforming the mindset of long term care by putting the focus back on the elder, not the diagnosis (regardless of how severe or advanced it may be). There is a better way, and I’m honored to witness elders living it daily.
Laurie Mante
Vice President, Residential Services Division
The Eddy/Northeast HealthWe were a very early adopter of the Green House model. I feel the
Green House Project was very beneficial to our project, although now their
tools are much more sophisticated and comprehensive. Even with almost three years of operations under our belt, our relationship with the national
team continues to provide value in benchmarking our quality outcomes,
sharing best practices, and networking with other Green House projects, and continuing to research what works best and what areas we need to look
at doing things differently.Joyce Ebmeier
Strategic Planning
Tabitha Health Care Services
It has been Tabitha’s great fortune to have the NCB Capital Impact team
working with us starting in 2004 as we prepared to open our first Green
House Home in Nebraska. At that time, we all had a vision and shared a
passion for what this change could mean to Elders and caregivers. Up to
that point, we had tried to change, but the change was incremental and
seemed pulled back by the grip of institutional medical models. It was
the deep and knowledgeable resources of the NCB team that moved our work
forward.Brenda Anderson
Director of Development
Legacy Village“The Green House model has given us the framework to create a workplace where our staff feels empowered and they feel ownership of the home as well as the outcome of the care they provide. In the Green House home, the elders are doing what they want to do and have so much self determination, and as a result, they have a wonderful quality of life.”
Randell Stoll
President/CEO
Mt. San Antonio Gardens“We have been able to move forward with the development of our Green House project much faster and avoid costly mistakes with the assistance of our Green House Guide. The Green House Project has the expertise to help us through the planning process and overcome hurdles we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. “
John Ponthie
Member
Summit Health Resources“Any number of people can design or build the architecture but that doesn’t bring about the revolutionary change in culture that The Green House Project provides. For us to be able to leverage the successes and failures of so many other adopters is invaluable. The Green House Project has the expertise and structure to help manage our process in a manner that gives our project the highest possibility of success. “
Pat Johns
Daughter-in-law of Blenda Johns, Elder
Boersma Cottage, Resthaven Care Center“To have my mother-in-law here has been just a great sense of relief. And it helps her have more of a peace of mind also because they are so close to her and so caring. And she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore like she was in her own home. And if I’m not here, at least, you know, she’s okay. Knowing that the next best thing is right on the other side of the door. “
Zoe Holland
Daughter of Mary Valentine, Elder
The Martin House, Tabitha Health Care Services“The Shahbazim were like family to my mother. They were like her own children. They arrived in the morning, they went in for a hug, they went off their shift, before they left they went in for a hug, they were so sweet and tender and gentle and happy and she gave that back to them… it was contagious. “
Lela Jasper
Elder
Village of Redford, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan“It means a lot to me. It’s good to have somebody close to you. If you need something, want to talk to them, you can.”
Janice Weikert
Daughter of Helen Hill, Elder
Moorberg Cottage, St. John’s Lutheran Ministries“My mother had been in assisted living and she became almost a recluse. She wouldn’t come out of her room, it was hard for her to meet other people. She would come out only with my brother or myself. Since the day she’s been here, she’s been out of her room, she goes down and she eats and she plays bingo and she does puzzles and she is, you know, very active. And mom’s health has improved also, gaining weight… Mom just changed…”
Stacey Robertson
Shahbaz
Boersma Cottage, Resthaven Care Center“You would be surprised just by the gratification you take home from day one. I loved it. It took a lot to get used to it because it’s new, but now, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s the best job. It is. The best job in the world.”