NURSING
CARE
The
Jane Baker Small House
When most
of us think of nursing homes, we immediately visualize negative
images. We envision elders seated in wheelchairs, nodding
asleep. We envision sharing a room with another person we’ve
never known. We envision mass-produced food served up in trays
next to our bed. We envision long days and nights made longer
by loneliness.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Otterbein, a leader
for 94 years in the care of older people, has a new plan – a
new model. On that will change the future for us all.
A radical departure from traditional nursing homes, the small
house model creates a place where elders gather around a dining
table for meals and games, share stories in the great room by
the fireplace, and retire to their own bedrooms and baths at
the end of the day. They decide their own meal times and choose
their own hobbies. Family and friends are welcome to drop by
for a visit at any time. Here elders will live enjoying autonomy,
dignity and choice that are often absent from traditional institutions.
The small house is designed to be a home for the people who
live there. Residents still benefit from the outstanding nursing
care that has distinguished Otterbein for years, but the focus
is on enjoying life in a home where nurturing personal care is
provided to each individual.
The small house removes people from the traditional model of
institutional care. In a small house, neighborhood life is rooted
in a philosophy that recognizes the uniqueness of the individual
and honors the universal need for human warmth and companionship.
The specialized, trained staff understands that no person wants
to live in an environment that focuses solely on their frailty,
and so quality of life becomes the small house focus. Elder assistants,
licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, physical therapists,
social workers, nutritionists, and a medical director make up
the healthcare team. They work together to personalize the care
for each resident. Caregivers receive 135 hours of extra training
so as to respond better to the needs of elders in the small house.
The small house is simply a home. At an Otterbein Small House,
you will discover that exceptional care does not mean giving
up the comforts of home. With the small house model, we will
change the future for us all.
| 
