The Green House Project opened its first, small-scale nursing homes in 2003. New research shows that compared to conventional nursing homes, Green Houses may be preferable.
Developers have adapted their Green House projects for assisted living, veterans, a public housing agency, people with dementia, and multiple sclerosis. Green Houses also integrate hospice care. “We try very hard to say, ‘This is home for life,’” said Susan Ryan, senior director of the Green House Project, The New York Times reports.
The researchers found that Green House residents were 16 percent less likely to be bedridden, 38 percent less likely to have pressure ulcers and 45 percent less likely to have catheters. Avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions were also lower, reassuring observers who wondered if the Green Houses’ emphasis on quality of life meant sacrificing quality of care.
