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Lincoln Campus Services : Green House Project

Green House at Tabitha Transforms Long-Term Care

The Tabitha Green House Project^R is a new and attractive choice for Elders and their families. In May 2006, Tabitha opened Nebraska’s first–and the nation’s second Green House Project. The Green House transforms the way care is delivered, departing from the traditional nursing home model by bringing long-term care into a home setting. Nine people live in our first Green House, each with their own private room and bath. One of the first indications that life in the Green House was significantly different than a traditional nursing home was when one of the Elders asked to eat her first meal outdoors on the patio. Her wish was immediately granted. Since then, her love of the outdoors has been served every day that weather has permitted. Why is this remarkable? For years, the same Elder was cautioned “never” to go outside alone. Now, because she has the assistive technology that keeps her in touch with the Caregivers whenever she is on her own outdoors, she is living on her own terms.

Medical miracles were never expected, but the people of the Green House have made remarkable clinical strides: weight gain has been achieved when never before possible in a traditional setting. An Elder who was nearly bedfast upon admission is walking to the dining room with a little assist from the Caregiver. And, the first few steps have been taken by the eldest Elder who set a personal goal of walking by her 101st birthday this November.

One evening, the people of the Green House welcomed three newly trained Caregivers to the household during an evening punctuated with music, dancing, breaking bread, uncorking champaign and sharing the warmth that can only be felt when you truly feel at home. Then, in one beautiful and spontaneous moment, an Elder leaned in and whispered: “You know, there just isn’t time to be lonely here.”

The Green House Project was envisioned by William H. Thomas, M.D., and is being developed in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Cooperative Bank Development Corporation (NCBDC).

Green House Features

• 5,300 square foot home
  
• Nine private living spaces with private baths
  
• Handicap accessible, indoor and out
  
• Shared living spaces centered around the hearth
  
• Kitchen open around the clock
  
• Dining room where meals are served family style
  
• Library
  
• Living room
  
• Porch, patio, garden and yard spaces
  
• Indoor and outdoor security systems
  
• Laundry onsite
  

Green House Floor Plan

Major Corporate Supporters

• Lutheran Services for the Elderly
  
• Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, Affordable Housing Program
  
• Lincoln Community Foundation
  
• Immanuel Health Systems
  
• City of Lincoln
  
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
  
• American National Bank
  
• Stanley Senior Technologies™
  

Billing Questions

(402) 484-9651
(800) 267-2986, ext.651
Email patientaccounts@tabitha.org

• Service Standards
  
• Free Resource Guide to All Tabitha Services