Staff, administrators and board members of the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio spent Dec. 13-14 in the classroom to become better acquainted with The Green House (R) Project.

The two-day sessions provided staff, administrators and board members the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Green House Model and helped created a better understanding of core Green House principles. Leading the sessions were Lisa Maxwell and Heather Marshall from The Green House Project, headquartered in Arlington, Va.

In October MHCO launched a $3.9 million Green House building project, where eventually 10 Green House homes and a community building will serve a small intentional community for a group of elders and staff. The community is under construction on the south side of Augsburger Road, across to Maple Crest Senior Retirement Community.

Laura Voth, MHCO chief operating officer, said that 160 persons participated over the two days.

"We reviewed the philosophy, environment and organizational structure of the Green House Project," she said. "Our participants gained a better understanding of the philosophy of the Green House Model. We are very excited about the project. These sessions allowed us to form goals and create a common purpose as we prepare for the Green Houses to open."

Topics covered during the meetings included an overview of the Green House Project. Those who attended learned about its philosophy, environment and organizational structure.

Also covered were discussions on person-directed care and organizational transformation. A project plan review and a session in visioning and messaging the Green House concept also took place.

"The sessions helped us to build a foundation of understanding of core Green House person-directed care principles," said Voth. "In addition, we were able to have questions answered, become more familiar with the project plan and created a common vision for it."

The Green House is a radically new, non-institutional model that reinvents the experience of long-term care for elders. In it elders receive needed assistance and care in small homes that meet all required state and federal regulatory and reimbursement criteria for licensure as skilled nursing facilities.

Photo:

Members of the MHCO staff talk with Green House Project personnel who led the Dec. 13-14 sessions. From left, Doug Luginbill, Laura Voth, Rhonda Wolpert, Lisa Maxwell and Heather Marshall.