There's No Place Like Home

Long term health care facilities scattered all over the country are changing the way they care for the senior poplulation by converting from the old institutional model to the new household model, revolutionizing the way care is provided.  Good Shepherd Community is pleased to announce that construction will soon begin to add two, two-story additions and will convert/remodel the existing facility into the household model.

When construction is complete, the 162 bed long term care facility will have eight households, consisting of 154 private suites and just four semiprivate suites.  Households will range from a minimum of 16 residents to a maximum of 23, creating a smaller, homier environment.  Each household will have its own serving kitchen, living and dining room.  Tub rooms will be replaced with spas, creating a more relaxing environment for residents to bathe.  Consistent staff in each household will strengthen relationships with residents and will help create more of a family bond.  Household staff will be cross-trained to take care of all the resident's needs and household chores will be shared among all staff.

There will be a main street as you enter Good Shepherd Lutheran Home complete with a welcome center, Northern Delights coffee and gift shop, and a theater/meeting room.  The entrance to each household will be off the main street, and only staff scheduled on the household, household members and visitors will frequent the halls, cutting down on unnecessary traffic and noise.

Along with the change of the physical structure,  there will also be changes in the way residents go about their daily lives.  With a smaller environment, residents will be able to have more choice and control with things such as when they want to wake up or go to sleep, what they would like to eat, how often they would like to bathe, etc.  Residents and staff of the households will make decisions for their particular household by conducting learning circles.  Learning circles are a collaborative way of meeting where each person gets the opportunity to give their thoughts, concerns and opinions about the topic at hand.

Good Shepherd is committed to creating a better home environment for those who live there.  The upcoming changes in the physical building, culture and day to day operation are a true testament to this commitment.  Home is where the heart is and we all agree, "There's no place like home!"

Pictures and updates regarding the upcoming construction will be available on Good Shepherd Community's website.