Project Details
SIZE:	3 Green Houses - 21,000 sq. ft.
COMPLETED:	Anticipated 2009
LOCATION:	Jefferson County, TN
OWNER:	Jefferson County Nursing Home

Jefferson County Nursing Home originally hired LGA for additions and renovations to their existing, outdated, nursing home facility. Through research and innovative thinking, LGA realized that proposing an alternative concept consisting of freestanding "Green Houses" housing up to 10 residents each could be a more effective and desirable solution to the facility's needs. Seeing the evidence demonstrating that this approach provides better health and quality of life to residents and is more cost-effective for facility managers, the administrators were convinced, and the project scope was redefined. Unlike traditional nursing homes, the Green House approach to providing long-term, skilled care to the elderly and disabled involves building freestanding houses for residents where smaller groups reside together in a more family-like setting. These home-like dwellings are centered on the main dining and living areas. Menu planning and cooking are participatory events for the residents. In each Green House, one in-house nursing staff member helps residents organize daily activities and manage patient care. Each resident lives in a private room with a private bathroom. A walkable garden-like setting, void of unpleasant parking lots or service areas, surrounds each house. Along with three new Green Houses some renovations to the current facility are still part of the project.