Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Green House home?

“A dwelling for a small group of elders needing care that is built to a residential scale and situates necessary clinical care within a social model in which primacy is given to the older person’s quality of life.”

Where does the name “Green House” come from?

The Green House concept was developed by Harvard Graduate and Geriatrician Dr. Bill Thomas in response to the institutionalization of elders in nursing homes. Dr. Thomas created a new architectural and organizational model that provides elders with access to plants, gardens, pets and personal space including a bedroom and bathroom. Dignity and respect is at the center of the environment which offers elders a place to pursue their interests and grow and thrive as individuals.

Is the Green House project a franchise?

No, it’s not a franchise, it’s a registered trademark. Organizations wishing to use the name and adopt the Green House philosophy must sign a licensing agreement. NCB Capital Impact located in Washington, D.C. provides technical assistance and oversight for organizations that want to become Green House® organizations. Organizations must agree to uphold basic and specific standards that make Green House projects different from traditional nursing home models.

Where will the Sheridan Green House cottages be located and when will they be available?

The first four homes in Sheridan will be built on 2+ acres of land a mile west of Sheridan Memorial Hospital in the Cloud Peak Estates subdivision. Don Roberts, Jr. donated the land to the Sheridan volunteers after hearing of the project. Land is being set aside for future cottages.

Construction will begin in May 2009 with elders moving in June 2010.

Who is eligible for Green House Living for Sheridan?

The first four Green House®Living for Sheridan project homes will accommodate elders with skilled nursing and personal care needs, as well as people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. These homes will be licensed as nursing homes and will be under the jurisdiction of the Wyoming Department of Health. Medicaid, Medicare and private pay are welcome.

Who will staff the homes?

When a person tours the Green House homes, one of the most striking aspects they note is the attitude of the “Shahbaz” or elder assistant and other nursing and culinary staff. The Shahbaz is trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) but they are much more. They take cooking classes and are educated on how to be a self-directed work team. A Shahbaz is a friend of elder and family and provides care unique to each elder as well as performing daily household tasks. The medical, clinical and therapeutic professionals come into the home regularly and are available in case of emergencies. There is always a nurse on duty and in proximity to the homes.

This new professional model is overwhelmingly supported by the Shahbaz who are enthusiastic about the time they can give to the elders. Studies say they are comfortable with the workload and the health and safety of the people they serve.

What’s so different about a Green House home?

In traditional nursing homes residents wake up, eat, bathe, participate in activities, and go to bed on a schedule that is suited to the staff and management. Due to the large number of people in nursing homes there is no choice but to put people on a schedule. In contrast, in a Green House® home, elders wake up when they feel like waking up, and order what they want to eat for breakfast. It’s all about choice.

Another popular aspect of a Green House design is that each elder has a private bedroom and full bath. The theme is that nothing should take place there which doesn’t happen in your own home. Therefore, there are no nursing stations, medication carts, regimented activity calendars, or mass produced meals from a centralized kitchen. All food is prepared right in the open kitchen where the smell of good food fills the air.

Where are other Green House homes located?

Sheridan is the pilot project for Wyoming, however other communities are contacting Sheridan and NCB Capital Impact as news spreads about the new concept in skilled nursing care. The first project opened in Tupelo, Mississippi in 2002. Now the model is in various stages of development in many other states including Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska, Georgia, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Utah and Montana. One provider in Ohio has plans to build 36 homes on its property. Our grant for the pilot program in Wyoming assumes Sheridan will be the first and serve as a resource to other communities in the state who are interested in the concept.

How can something this good be affordable?

There are two main reasons. First much of the expense of maintaining a large institutional building disappears when a smaller unit is built. Secondly, staffing costs are shifted when there are more “hands-on” staffing to meet the elder’s needs and less administrative and management staff overhead. The overall change in the management model and architecture keep the costs reasonable.

Volunteers are raising $5.3 million dollars to build the facility. The more the volunteers raise, the more elders will be able to afford this wonderful home.The goal is to have 50-50 Medicare and Medicaid so that this opportunity is open to everyone.

How will Sheridan go about building the Green House®Living for Sheridan project?

A committed local all-volunteer board, Alternative Elder Care, Inc. (AEL, Inc.) applied for and received non-profit status in 2007. A task force of nearly 25 enthusiastic volunteers are working on committees which include Finance, Building and Site, Staffing and Operations, Public Information, Culture and Fund raising. The success of the Sheridan pilot program is essential to the Green House concept becoming a reality in Wyoming. These volunteers don’t ask why they just know it’s the right thing to do. If you would like to give to this wonderful project, please contact Sue Sharp, Project Manager sue@mediationwest.com or 307.752.0687 or send you gift to: Green House Living for Sheridan, P.O. Box 444, Sheridan, WY. Your gift is tax deductible.