JANE BAKER 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 95 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.

For more information about the Jane Baker House please contact the Otterbein North Shore Marketing office at 419-798-8203 or toll free at 800-248-4074.