Members of the newly opened Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea, Mass. — the nation’s first urban Green House Project — joined the Green House team for a panel discussion at the 2011 LeadingAge conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17.
The topic of the discussion was the innovative workforce model pioneered by the Green House. In Green House homes, the focus of staffing is shifted away from administrative roles towards direct care of elders. Each Green House Project has a clinical support team, which includes nurses, therapists, social services, activities, and dietary professionals, working in partnership with the Shahbazim (universal workers who replace traditional CNA’s) to develop and implement individualized care plans for the elders.
A Guide (a new role typically assumed by a nursing home administrator) serves as coach and supervisor to the Shahbazim or direct care workers, and is responsible for the overall operations and quality of services in the home. A self-managed work team structure is used, with the Shahbazim coached by and accountable to the Guide.
Below is the first video in a series of Question & Answers taken from the panel discusion. Leonard Florence Shahbazim Betty Tambedou and Brian O’Connor field questions from the audience about working and living in a Green House Project home.
Green House Shahbazim Q&A: Cooking from The Green House Project on Vimeo.
