The national Green House meeting

Ted Gross - GEDCO Director of Senior Services - attended the national Green House meeting in Kansas City and participated in a number of networking and educational sessions. Here is his report:

• Dr. Bill Thomas taught the audience how to tell a story
• Bonnie Kantor (Pioneer Network) spoke about new partnerships with CMS, including a request to have each state appoint a culture change leader.
• Workflow research was presented which confirmed that the Green House model provides more direct care hours per elder, while using less administrative and executive time. This should lead to cost savings compared to standard nursing homes once the project is operational.
• Research about the nursing team reinforced the need for improved training and effective teamwork with the shahbazim.
• We discussed the importance of meal time and convivium
• We learned how to speak Green House. (I will popst next week)
• NCB will be introducing a new web site this fall, and there are now 18 short video clips about the Green House model.
• Arkansas is working with CMS to change the daily Medicaid reimbursement rate for Green House homes.

Baltimore Approves GREEN HOUSE Design!

Yesterday afternoon the Baltimore City Planning Commission approved the design for GEDCO's GREEN HOUSE Residences at Stadium Place and the technical details related to the modification of our original "nursing home" concept component of the community (PUD zoning ordinance) and land allocation (subdivision of the property) to accommodate our project.

After the Planning Department staff member assigned to review our project presented the details, the Chairperson asked for anyone present who wished to speak against (thankfully no one) or for the project.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke (who represents the area around Stadium Place) then enthusiastically jumped to her feet to praise GEDCO as the sponsoring organization, the concept and execution of our "affordable retirement community," and to remark how proud she is that the first Green House in the State of Maryland offering such a unique brand of "humane," cutting edge care for frail elders embedded in the Green House model will be located in her district.

Councilwoman Clarke embarassed me into getting up to "share my enthusiasm" with the Board members who then responded with some very heartfelt praise for GEDCO and our work in the community. I left feeling like I had just participated in a "love-fest" in honor of everyone who has contributed to our successes over the years!

Children and Elders at Stadium Place

I wanted to share something I saw last week on Changingaging.org (Dr. Thomas' blog site) which really captures the spirit of what GEDCO is trying to accomplish at Stadium Place in general, and within the Green House Residences specifically.

We hope that by creating a welcoming environment that is integrated with the neighborhood, and that emphasized the role of family visitors and volunteer participation, we'll create these same kinds of inter-generational "miracles."

Children and Elders
Posted: 18 Jun 2009 08:47 AM PDT

I was fortunate to meet Bill Thomas and learn of his philosophy early on as I began my experience with a long term care facility. It has helped me to define the way I approach my work. I am beginning my 10th year at The Village at Manor Park in Midland Texas. Midland College has a child care center on the property and I care for the children at the facility. I had many years of experience working with children but no experience with nursing homes or an aging population. It took me some time to figure out just what the best plan would be. I have worked with many activity directors that had their own ideas about “activities”. I have come to the conclusion that a lot of activities are not necessary. Put children and Elders together and something magical happens naturally with out any prompting. I call them little moments from God and I am so blessed to be a witness to these little miracles. Thanks for all the work you do on behalf of the Elders we all love.

Tracy Roome

Letter to the Editor

What follows is my letter to the editor of The Baltimore Sun in response to Sunday's Parade Magazine article on the Green House Model.

The Parade magazine feature Where To Live As We Age by Susan Fine which appeared on May 31, 2009 inspired me to write about the benefits of a healthy nonprofit infrastructure in a community like Baltimore, especially during an economic downturn. The faith and community based Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO) is poised to develop the first GREEN HOUSE® Residences in the state of Maryland, at Stadium Place. In the short run this “shovel ready”, job creating, environmentally friendly project will have strong economic benefits for our community. In the longer term this first replication of the innovative Green House model will showcase Baltimore and Maryland in the forefront of the national transformation in long term care environments for our elders.

Forty-nine (49) frail elders (one thousand over the life of the facility) will thrive and grow in the Green House setting that, unlike traditional nursing homes, is not an impersonal institution but rather a true home where the residents can receive the medical and supportive care they need without that care becoming the focus of their lives. No nurses stations, no medicine carts, no uniforms - - because you wouldn’t find them in your own home. And no artificial schedules to meet. Rather, the Green House residences will be a community of elders and their “shabbazim” (the self managed care workers) who let each day unfold according to the choices and natural life rhythms of each elder. You might smell fresh-baked brownies or dinner cooking, instead of the smell of disinfectant. Residents might be helping prepare lunch in the kitchen, or perhaps sitting reading in front of the fireplace, sipping a beverage on the screened in porch, or enjoying the privacy of their own room. Medical staff will support the elders and the shabbazim, but the elders and shabbazim will direct daily life in the Green House residences.

Fifty-one (51) new, full time equivalent positions will be created, with additional jobs supported for those providing ancillary health care services. One hundred twenty (120) construction jobs will be generated during the course of building this $11.7 million facility, which will be designed to LEED- Silver standards. Additional time-limited employment is currently being supported through the design and other pre - development phases of the project.

The Green House residences will be part of GEDCO’s Stadium Place affordable retirement community (on the site formerly of Memorial Stadium), where ultimately more than 500 older adults will continue to live meaningful and engaged lives. The Stadium Place community currently includes 340 subsidized apartments for seniors in four buildings, a community built playground, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Y at Stadium Place, the ThanksGiving Place entry plaza and a variety of supportive services to assist older adults in living independently in the community. None of this would have been possible without the inspired, tenacious, dedicated and sophisticated work of the volunteers and staff who make groups like GEDCO go!

GEDCO has been able to develop Stadium Place and the Green House residences over the last several years, with the support of public funding, individual contributions, private foundations, faith congregations, and the business community. A key to GEDCO’s ability to respond to opportunities like the Green House demonstration project is the participation of private sector donors who have the flexibility and are willing to invest in a nonprofit’s day-to-day operations, knowing that nonprofit organizations are a source of innovation, community improvement, and economic development. In one example, Bank of America’s annual Neighborhood Excellence Initiative® has given GEDCO and other Baltimore-based nonprofits large unrestricted core operating grants that allow us to pursue our mission in a fiscally sound, flexible and strategic manner. The local community ultimately benefits from new jobs, adaptive reuse of abandoned properties, and innovative approaches to vexing community problems. It makes good business sense for individuals, institutions and businesses to invest in nonprofits that contribute to the economic and social health of the areas where they conduct their business and where they live.

It is this flexible private support from businesses, foundations, individuals and faith congregations, coupled with critical public support from the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, that is making it possible for GEDCO to develop the Green House Residences at Stadium Place, with its spin-off economic benefits and its incalculable positive impact on the well-being of low and moderate income elders. It is in times like this that continued strong support is a vital investment in maintaining the capacity of organizations like GEDCO to serve the community in both the reliable and innovative ways which address issues and take advantage of opportunities which otherwise might be missed.

National publicity for the Green House!

Hey, GEDCO Green House Nation!

You will be pleased to hear that The Green House Project will be featured in Parade Magazine on this coming Sunday, May 31st. Parade is distributed in many Sunday newspapers throughout the nation (including the Baltimore Sun) and has a readership of 70 million.

You can also visit www.parade.com and read the article here.

Help get the Green House on Oprah!

Recently, Dr. Bill Thomas -- chief advocate of the Green House® Model -- submitted a tape he made about elder care to the Oprah Winfrey show. As a result, her producer called Bill and encouraged him to put it on YouTube.

Now with your help, we might be able to get Bill invited to be on the Oprah show where his thoughts on elderhood and especially the Green House® projects might get great national awareness. You can watch the video on YouTube, leave comments, and pass the link on to friends and family who would be interested! Spreading the word and getting the idea into the world builds excitement and generates publicity.



As you know GEDCO has accomplished its work through great relationships and unique partnerships that make powerful things like our Green House® Residences happen. Please join us to give Bill's work and ours at Stadium Place the attention it deserves.

What's special about the Green House Floor Plan?

The Green House model changes the floor plan and operation of a standard nursing home. Each of our four floors is designed to accommodate 12 elders in private rooms with private bathrooms surrounding a large living area called "the Hearth," complete with a fireplace, large screen TV and comfortable recliners, chairs and sofas. The private rooms are close enough to the Hearth to encourage elders to walk the short distance to participate in the activities, or simply to open their door and observe what others are doing.

An open kitchen with breakfast bar and a large family-style dining table invites residents to linger over a cup of coffee and visit with their housemates and staff. In each residence, meals are prepared from scratch using favorite recipes. The aroma of home-cooked meals fills the air, and there’s always a snack close by, any time, day or night.

There is plenty of access to fresh air and natural light. A large balcony on the west side of the building overlooks the playing fields which will be rebuilt with the support of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Residents also have access to a smaller porch on the east side and garden space on the ground floor, including the labyrinth at ThanksGiving Place.

Weinberg Fellows

I'm spending this week at a Weinberg Fellows retreat for Executive Directors selected by the foundation for training and peer group development and support in Baltimore.

We had excellent discussions today on two subjects -

1. The role of "millenials" (under 30's) in the future of the non-profit industry, and
2. New funding sources to be announced soon by the Obama administration which might hold the promise of some "seed" money for the Green House.

Anyone willing to do some research on government websites, please let me know at mposner[at]gedco[dot]org.

Far from finished

We're happy to report, that the GREEN HOUSE® Campaign now has $5.6 million of the required $14 million needed to make the project a reality. It was a huge victory getting the capital funding allocation from the State, but it isn't the end of the road -- it's really just the "take off".

The new funds should greatly enhance our applications for $3.9 million in New Markets Tax Credits and major dollar requests to the France-Merrick Foundation and the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation later this year.

In the meantime - some bad news to share - the Abell Foundation turned down our request for $150,000 toward predevelopment expenses for the Green House and Village Center we have proposed for the final development parcel at Stadium Place, citing "the current economic climate...has made it impossible for the Foundation to honor all worthy projects."

Any ideas or efforts on your part to identify possible funding sources are welcome!

A Passover thought

On the heels of our happy news of yesterday I thought I would share a thought I came upon in preparation for my family Passover seder. I believe it nicely summarizes the philosophy behind GEDCO at large, and the Green House in particular.

It was written by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks of the UK: "When we share our bread with others, we have taken the first step from affliction to freedom. Sharing our vulnerabilities, we discover strength. Reaching out to others, giving help to the needy, food to the hungry, and companionship to those who are alone, we bring the Divine presence into the world, and with it human solidarity, which is the beginning of freedom."

Happy holidays!

The news we've been waiting for!

On the heels of Easter and in the middle of Passover what more joy could there be?

Well for those of us in the GEDCO communities – we have just received confirmation that the Governors request for $4.5 million in state capital funding for the Green House at Stadium Place has been approved! For confirmation view the official report.

Of course this great news brings with it a tremendous responsibility to all of us to see that the project is developed and operated successfully, and a debt of gratitude to Governor O'Malley, members of the 43rd District, and many others who helped make this a reality.

Thanks to all for helping us get this far – we'll need you to stick with us to see this all the way through!

Enjoy the day and get ready for a ground breaking!

Professional football and the Green House at Stadium Place?

Just came back from lunch with former baltimore Colt and NFL Hall of Famer Lenny Moore. Mr. Moore has been a supporter and admirer of GEDCO's work at Stadium Place ( redevelopment of Memorial Stadium, the site of his "glory days") for the last few years.

He has too much personal experience with nursing homes, and is intrigued by the idea of helping us make some connections to the Ravens and/or the NFL to help make our project a reality. Can't do anything between now and the NFL draft (late April), but this may be the first page in another real interesting chapter of the story of the development of Stadium Place.

Keep your fingers crossed

The Maryland House of Delegates and Senate are in budget conference right now! They have both seperately approved the capital funding for our Green House at Stadium Place, but are working through final cuts and compromises. What a ride this is - Visit back on Monday and I'll let you know the outcome.

Happy holidays to all!

A pivotal period

So its come down to this - last Saturday morning the members of the Maryland House Appropriations Committee, Health and Human Resources Subcommittee (say that 3 times fast) met. The Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee meets this Friday afternoon to decide the fate of the $4.5 million for the Green House at Stadium Place which is proposed in the Governors FY 2010 capital budget.

I had the interetsting experience of testifying before both of these committees. The Senate committee started exactly on time and had us in and out of there in under 5 minutes (a good sign I'm told) - special thanks to Senator McFadden for his supportive comments at the conclusion of our time. Meanwhile the House Committee peppered us with insightful and challeging questions which we aced (I hope).

I will keep you posted as the week progresses!

A difficult experience with a silver lining

OK, OK, I apologize for not posting again sooner. Unfortunately personal health issues which resulted in a weeks stay at Northwest Hospital Center got in the way, but the silver lining is that I got a first hand exposure to life in an "institutional setting".

The hospital is recently renovated, all private rooms, and an excellent and caring staff, but - wow - forced to be on their schedule: 4am every morning, time to have your blood drawn so the doctor can see the results when(ever) he comes by later in the day; 7am shift change, time to get cleaned up for the day, etc. -  and life in a 10x12 room 24/7 is enough to make you tear your hair out.

Net result - I am even more understanding of the need for culture change in the long term care industry, and have a much fuller appreciation of the benefits of the Green House model. We have to "bring this home" to Stadium Place!

Baltimore City Support

I attended the Baltimore City Urban Affairs and Aging Committee meeting with residents of Stadium Place last week, to support a resolution introduced by Mary Pat Clarke, who has been a strong advocate of Stadium Place for many years. Three residents gave very heartfelt testimony about what it meant to have a safe and beautiful home at Stadium Place, and why there is such a great need for affordable long-term care at Stadium Place. We were very grateful that John Stewart (Executive Director of CARE) was able to attend the meeting and show his support.

After receiving a very favorable hearing from City Council Members Agnes Welch, Mary Pat Clarke, Sharon Green Middleton, and Rikki Spector, they passed a resolution in support of the Green House project. The resolution calls for Baltimore City and the State of Maryland to provide financial support to the project. It also calls upon the Baltimore City delegation to Annapolis to give high priority to the Green House project. We look forward to receiving the support of the full City Council next week.

We were happy to confirm the news that the Housing Department of Baltimore City was allocating $500,000 over the next two years towards the project. It was also exciting to hear that several Council Members would like to have a Green House project in their districts, after the project at Stadium Place is complete.

Design Images Release

The renderings or drawings depicted above are for informational purposes only. the renderings or drawings are not intended for use by any parties other than GEDCO, STADIUM PLACE Inc., their successors or assigns. These depictions are schematic in nature and will be subject to change.

Wow – we’re off to a great start!

Keep your fingers crossed. It looks like we’re really going to pull this off. Solid prospects are evolving for raising the funds required to build our GREEN HOUSE® Residences at Stadium Place.

On Monday we received confirmation that Governor O’Malley has included $4.5 million in his proposed FY 2010 Capital Budget for GREEN HOUSE at Stadium Place (Budget Code: ZA00).

Yesterday I met with our good friend Senator Joan Carter Conway to show her the latest architectural plans (which we’ll post tomorrow) and map the strategy for “protecting” this funding from legislative cuts. She is energized! Sen. Conway told me that she has received a call from Mayor Dixon’s office and Baltimore City is prepared to allocate $500,000 toward the project to compliment the State’s allocation.

I then went over to visit Del. Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County who chairs the House Capital Budget Subcommittee. Del. Jones had visited Stadium Place over the summer and watched the Green House video, and she was very impressed by the number of contributors to the “Green for the Green House” campaign, and the fact that our project will be “shovel ready” by the end of the year and will create 51 new permanent jobs (right out of the Obama rule book). I think she is convinced and supportive (her committee is key).

And then, while walking back into the Senate Office Building I ran into Shale Stiller, the President of the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, who told me he was drafting a letter of support for the project, and the Foundation is very interested in seeing a capital funding proposal from us.

Before leaving Annapolis Ann Murray and I went over to the Lifespan legislative reception at Harry Browns. We saw Del. Adelaide Eckardt (from the eastern Shore) (who is also on the House Capital Budget Subcommittee) and had a chance to inform her about the project – and she seemed impressed as well. Del. Nathaniel Oaks from Baltimore City (my district) said he would put in a good word with his colleagues from the City Delegation.

Many important seeds planted yesterday!