The PHI blog reports on initiatives by Pioneer Network, a national organization leading the movement for radical change in the culture of long-term care, to trigger understanding and eventually developments of more home-like long-term care facilities. One of their initiatives is called Small House Online Networking Initiative and aims to bring together key stakeholders to explore the idea of community-based “small houses” for older adults.

From the PHI blog:

With the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the new initiative aims to enhance communication and shared learning among those interested in the financing and delivery of person-directed long-term care through small houses-an alternative to institutional nursing homes. The virtual meeting place will also provide a forum for providers who currently run small house initiatives to exchange information.

“The idea that small groups of people can live together and thrive in the least restrictive setting, with appropriate care, is not a new concept,” said Bonnie Kantor, executive director of the Pioneer Network. “It has been successful in a wide range of settings, including group homes for adults with disabilities, adult family homes and congregate settings, and mental health initiatives.

“The application of the small-home concept, however, is a more recent addition in the field of aging, and one that needs consensus support from stakeholders and evidence-based support of its efficiency and cost-benefits in the care of frail older adults.”

To read the full article including a background and understanding of one related project, The Green House Project, that PHI was involved with, click here.