Decade's Top 10 Senior Design Innovations

Thanks to THE GREEN HOUSE PROJECT Blog and Long Term Living magazine's March issue, which rounds up the top 10 senior design innovations that have transformed nursing home and long term care in the past decade. "It's no surprise that The Green House Project not only makes the top 10, but it embodies nearly every other item on the list. Here's a quick synopsis of the top 10 innovations compiled by Margaret P. Calkins, PhD, for Long Term Living."

The list includes intentional elder-friendly communities, smaller is better, THE GREEN HOUSE Project, codifying person-centered care and the household model, private bathrooms are better, eliminating nursing stations and medicine carts, lighted grab bars, and better ceiling lifts.

For more questions about The Green House Residences at Stadium Place, and to add your name to the mailing list, please call Catholic Charities at 410-646-6580.

Meeting with OHCQ, Building the Foundation

Foundation work has continued during the past week at the Green House Residences Construction site. Work has started installing the cinder block foundation as well. We also took pictures during the deluge this week.

Today we had another in a series of positive meetings with representatives from Office of Health Care Quality, Catholic Charities, NCB Capital Impact, GEDCO and Marks, Thomas Architects. Planning is moving forward to open the building in early 2012. We discussed how the Green House model brings a different approach to dining services. Shahbazim (universal care workers) receive special training in food safety, meal preparation, and even knife skills. The shahbazim will engage elders in tasks around the home, including meal preparation, as they build relationships with the elders.

Elevators for the Green House Residences

Yesterday, the permiter for the elevator shaft was poured. While most Green House homes are small cottages, the Green House Residences at Stadium Place will have four stories, since we are located in an urban environment. Each story, or Residence, will be home to twelve elders.

Each floor will have a small elevator lobby, with a secure entrance to the Residence. When visitors enter the Residence, they will be standing in the Hearth area, looking at a living room with a fireplace, dining room with a large table for the Elders and Shahbazim to eat together, and the country kitchen. For more information about the Green House Project, visit, http://www.thegreenhouseproject.org/.

Foundation Work Continues

During the past week, work crews have been busy working on the the elevator pit. The Green House Residences will be the second urban Green House project, with a total of four floors and a lower level. Each floor will be a self-contained residence for 12 elders and their own team of Shahbazim (specially training universal care workers who are responsible for personal care and managing the household).

Yesterday, construction crews continued to pour concrete for the foundation and started pouring the base of the elevator shaft.

Pouring the Foundation

The construction for the Green House Residences is making good progress. We had the first pour of concrete this week to meet the Maryland Health Care Commission deadline. Please find enclosed pictures of the construction progress.

The Veterans Administration is building a Green House project in Danville, Illinois, and they just poured their foundation as well. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/TheGreenHouseProject

Seeding the Fundarising Campaign

The Leadership Committee, led by Karenthia Barber, is organizing the public phase of GEDCO's fundraising campaign for the Green House Residences at Stadium Place. We have raised $9.2 million of our $13.2 million goal, to complete construction of the building, retire the long-term debt, and build a benevolence fund and capital reserve.

The committee met last night to plan their outreach to different communities. Each person on the committee will lead the effort for a different community, such as universities, building professionals, lawyers, etc. We want to share the Green House story with as many different groups as possible. Please let us know how you will help to spread the word about the first Green House project in Maryland.

Digging the Hole

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow can slow our construction progress (we hope). Despite the icy weather the past week, excavation work has continued at Stadium Place. Since there were two stadia on this site (Memorial Stadium and a previous stadium built in 1922), we are finding debris, concrete and water pipes, as well as bottles from the Baltimore Brewing Company.

During this Super Bowl weekend, we remember the many Baltimore Colts who played in Memorial Stadium, and look forward to providing a new model of long-term care for those players who need skilled nursing care.