The Homeplace at Midway opens, with cottages for nursing, assisted living, memory care; first ‘Green House’ facility in Ky.
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
The Homeplace at Midway was formally opened Thursday, June 25, bringing to fruition a 16-year campaign for a nursing home in the Woodford County town of 1,700. For photos from its June 28 open house, click here.
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| Construction this spring (Christian Care Communities photo) |
The Homeplace, which has four residential buildings that look like single-family homes, is more than a nursing home. Two of the buildings are for skilled nursing, but one is for assisted living and the other is for “memory care” or personal care of patients with dementia and other cognitive impairments.
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| Assisted living cottage (Photo by Kacie Kelly) |
“We are extremely grateful to the City of Midway, the Midway Nursing Home Task Force, Midway College, state and local government agencies, our capital campaign’s Leadership Council and all our friends and supporters who championed this new direction and envisioned with us a new day when older adults would receive the highest quality care and support, without feeling their lives are being disrupted or overtaken,” Knapp said. “We trust that it will inspire other senior living providers to move in a similar direction.”
The Homeplace is the first facility in Kentucky built with The Green House model, which includes home-like environments and strong relationships with caregivers, with the goal of meaningful lives for residents. Dr. William Thomas, creator of the model, told the crowd at the event, “The Homeplace, with its
emphasis on home, shows how care can be made more loving, community centered and
effective.”
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| One of the two skilled-care cottages (Photo by Kacie Kelly) |
Patients have been moving in all month. The staff at The Homeplace is trained to use the “best friend approach,” Laurie Dorough, the facility’s community-relations manager, said in an interview. Staff and volunteers are to treat residents as they would treat a best
friend.
Knapp said at the ribbon-cutting, “Each
resident will have a private bedroom and bath and share, just as people do in
any home, the kitchen, living room, den and porch areas. It’s all designed to give residents the
freedom to set their own daily routines and to live life to its fullest, while
receiving the individual care they need – within each cottage.
The assisted-living cottage is larger than the others, to provide room for more
activities and “the potential for spouses to live there,” said Laurie Dorough. “It’s
kind of the first step out of independent living,” she said. The
cottage has an open kitchen where residents can get involved with meal
preparation or “come out and see what’s cooking.”
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| Skilled-care cottage bathroom lift system (Photo by Kacie Kelly) |
The skilled-nursing cottages have bedrooms with medicine cupboards rather than medical carts, and a bathroom lift system (photo at right) that takes the resident straight to their own bathroom. The bedrooms are relatively small, an incentive for residents to spend more time in the communal living space.
The Homeplace campus, across Weisenberger Mill Road from Midway College, also includes an administrative
cottage and the Lucy Simms Lloyd Gathering House for special gatherings, worship
services and activities.
Between the cottages is the courtyard, with lighted walking paths from building to building, a gazebo, and space for outdoor activities. “Our hope is to maybe start a community garden,” said Dorough.
The long campaign for a nursing home, led by the Midway Nursing Home Task Force, began to see success in 2010 when Louisville-based
Christian Care agreed to be the developer. Christian Care has facilities in 11 Kentucky cities, and a church-outreach program with more than 230 churches as partners.
The Homeplace will have a partnership with Midway College, which becomes Midway University July 1. “We are excited to work with Midway College to not only provide learning opportunities for students but also for the residents of The Homeplace,” said Tonya Cox, the facility’s executive director.
The Homeplace will be offering internships and other learning opportunities for students. This partnership will also benefit residents, Cox said: “Our residents will also have the opportunity to attend events and classes to foster their lifelong learning.”
Cox said The Homeplace aims to provide “unique long-term care in a way that honors their preferences and desires to be home.” More information is on the facility’s website. It will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 28.