AAHSA FutureAge Sept/Oct 2010 - 21

with	over	200	professionals	and	providers	to	discuss	the	future	 [of	the	field].” Market	research	in	the	form	of	mailers,	Internet	surveys	 and	one-on-one	discussions	with	staff,	families	and	residents	 provides	useful	information	for	planners	and	designers.	Consumer	feedback	through	post-occupancy	evaluations	is	also	 beneficial	for	highlighting	key	issues	that	may	need	to	be	 addressed. Planning	for	the	future,	of	course,	must	include	baby	boomers.	“Considering	it	typically	takes	four	to	five	years	from	 inception	to	completion	for	a	new	community	or	major	expansion,	it’s	critical	we	start	looking	at	the	unique	perspective	of	 the	boomer	population,”	says	Campbell,	who	believes	boomers	 will	be	adamant	about	flexibility,	adaptability,	integration	into	 the	community,	freedom	of	choice,	self-directed	care	plans	and	 wellness	plans,	less	reliance	on	family,	and	cultural	and	sexual	 diversity.

Neighborhoods, Households and	Pocket	Communities The neighborhood model remains strong and healthy, as evidenced	by	an	increasing	variety	of	sizes	and	configurations	 being	built.	“However,	neighborhoods	are	only	effective	if	 matched	with	a	totally	redesigned	staffing	and	service	delivery	 model	that	is	not	a	hierarchical,	department-based	operation,”	says	Hoglund. “A	neighborhood	with	10-15	residents	is	 too	small	for	a	traditional	staffing	approach.	The	solution	is	 permanent	employees	on	site	who	are	cross-trained,	such	as	 CNAs	who	can	also	cook	breakfast.” The	Masonic	Care	Community	of	New	York,	in	Utica,	is	a	 multi-level	health	facility	providing	320	skilled	beds,	80	adult	

care beds, and an independent living community of 75 apartments,	renovated	to	the	neighborhood	concept	six	years	ago. “Prior	to	our	conversion,	we	had	many,	many	empty	beds	 because	our	nursing	home	was	old	and	outdated,”	states	Keith	 Heinrich,	former	associate	executive	director	(now	a	consultant	for	Masonic).“Since	we	built	the	neighborhood	concept	 we	have	become	the	facility	of	choice	in	our	area	and	a	facility	 that	everyone	wants	when	their	loved	ones	need	skilled	care.” Heinrich	indicates	the	organization’s	residents	are	much	 more	engaged	than	before	because	they	live	in	a	space	that	 feels	like	home.“The	social	interaction	around	the	dining	 experience	is	very	important	when	any	redesign	is	being	considered,”	he	stresses.	“We	have	seen	firsthand	how	individuals,	 who	appeared	depressed,	come	to	life	when	the	dining	experience	becomes	more	normal.	I	cannot	stress	enough,	however,	 that	physical	redesign,	without	staff	education	in	person-centered	care,	is	not	worth	the	effort.” Lindsey	also	believes	in	another	model	beyond	neighborhoods,	“households”	where	small	groups	of	residents	live	in	 units	that	feel	like	home	but	share	some	communal	space.	 “We	have	been	functioning	in	this	model	for	four	years	and	 have	seen	amazing	results	in	the	lives	of	the	people	living	and	 working	in	the	households,”	he	says.	“The	focus	on	true	relationships	and	the	opportunity	to	live	with	purpose,	in	spite	 of	a	need	for	skilled	care,	in	a	small	household	of	people	who	 know	you	and	love	you	has	had	remarkable	results	[and]	it	is	 also	performing	well	financially.	Some	of	the	most	significant	 changes	to	the	skilled	nursing	environment	sound	like	regular	 life	to	people	who	don’t	live	in	that	environment,	but	make	a	 huge	difference	to	the	people	that	do,	such	as	setting	the	table	 before	meals.	It	also	has	a	lot	to	do	with	the	sense	of	empower-

The AAHSA Idea House Inspires Again
The AAHSA Idea House, the groundbreaking exhibit that debuted in 2009, will return to AAHSA’s Annual Meeting & Exposition for 2010, Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 in Los Angeles. Designed to demonstrate how to optimize aging in place, the 2010 AAHSA Idea House will showcase 5,000 square feet of outdoor and indoor living space. It will feature universal design features and products from dozens of exhibitors, with a strong emphasis on creative technology and green principles. The house’s innovations aren’t just inside its walls. It features a new 2,500 square-feet outdoor area that will feature a tai chi garden for holistic wellness and space for gardening. To learn more, visit the AAHSA Idea House section of the AAHSA annual meeting Web site. Check back for updates as the meeting approaches.

THW Design

The AAHSA Idea House features an outdoor area designed to promote healthier living and a healthier environment.
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AAHSA FutureAge Sept/Oct 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAHSA FutureAge Sept/Oct 2010
