You ring the doorbell. The front door opens, and you’re welcomed inside. You enter a beautifully furnished, inviting space that feels like a comfortable home. To one side is a living room where a small group of caregivers and seniors gathered by the fireplace. The large eat-in kitchen is bustling with activity; there’s a pot bubbling on the stove and mouthwatering smells wafting from the oven. Sunroom windows look out over a garden and fill the room with sunlight. Little details tell you this is a place that’s loved: beautiful art on the walls, soft pillows on a couch, fresh flower arrangements on a table.
What is the “Household Model?”
A homelike approach to living is called the household model. It’s part of a national movement to create a less institutionalized, long-term care living option for small groups of residents. It redesigns resident’s physical environment for care, and thoughtfully manages and delivers care services to them. The household model puts residents’ wants, needs and abilities first. It promotes a culture of rich relationships and meaningful interactions through “household living.” It’s an evidence-based philosophy that works with approximately 17-20 residents per household.
How Does Senior Living in a Household Model Work?
The household model is very different from conventional nursing homes which have long hallways, shared rooms and bathrooms, and commercial-style kitchens. In contrast, a small household would feature:
- Private suites, each with a bathroom and a shower
- Shared living room spaces like reading and TV rooms
- Large dining tables for eating and gathering
- Open kitchen areas
- Easy access to the outdoors
FellowshipLIFE began offering the household model in 2018 and serves all levels of care, including Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. For small groups of 17 to 20 people per household, we offer a person-directed lifestyle and individual care. Households are designed to be relaxed and accessible. They feel like your residential home. Residents have their private bedroom and bathroom, and they share access to outdoor and indoor spaces, including a large open kitchen and tables for dining.
The Person-Directed Lifestyle
Life in a household model is tailored to a person’s natural routines. Residents don’t follow rigid schedules but live on their own terms, with more personal choice and with a greater sense of control. An AARP article states the household model has consistent and dedicated team members who see their role as advocates for the people in their care. They spend more time per resident per day on direct care activities compared to staff in standard nursing homes.
Alex Trotta, Director of Resident Services, says, “When a resident moves into a household, we learn what we call their daily pleasures. This includes when they like to get up and what time they go to bed, how they like their meals, and what they like to do throughout their day. He says it makes anticipating and supporting each person’s individual interests feel natural and seamless. We don’t have to ask, we know. For example, we know someone likes to go to church, so we arrange services for them. We know there’s a group of people who like violin music, and we’ll ask a violinist to play for them. We really tailor our life engagement programs to what people like.“
Discover more benefits of the household model.
FellowshipLIFE was one of the first senior living operators across the nation to offer the household model, and we’re proud to have led the way for this innovative philosophy in New Jersey. Reach out to us today for more information and to see if this is right for you or a loved one.
