Opportunity
Problem
There are not enough full-time assisted housing facilities that can provide respectful and skilled care to residents. CT also lacks short-term, medically-skilled care facilities.
Solution
Bright House aims to be that home for 14 lucky full-time assisted living residents, offering medically-skilled care in a respectful, self-sustaining community, and offering skilled nursing care for short-term residents. On our beautiful, newly remodeled 6 acre property (the former Wayfield Bed and Breakfast) in the small college town of Middletown, CT, Bright House brings together decades of experience and innovative, alternative visions of the potential in our elderly family members’ latest years.
Market
The Baby Boomers’ aging is a well-known, and often discussed, fact. More and more of this population, many of whom were instrumental in creating the counter-culture of the 1960’s and 70’s, are unhappily surprised about the options available to them as they age. Fortunately, the Eden Care model of elder-care is being developed, just like AARP, formerly known as American Association of Retired Persons.
Residents’/Patients’ Needs
Based on years spent caring for elderly patients, we have found that many people looking for assisted living and skilled nursing care share the same needs.
- To be treated with respect and dignity
- To be active in a group of people
- To be involved in his/her own treatment and living plan
- To be cared for by skilled, medically-knowledgeable clinicians and caregivers, working as a team
Our list of “needs”, as it is called, appears to be in an opposite order to most nursing homes. Unfortunately, our elderly population is treated with the billing system’s needs in mind, not theirs.
Families’ Needs
Families of individuals seeking care environments are also looking for their needs to be met.
- Peace of mind about their loved-ones’ physical and mental state
- Relief from the time-consuming job of caring for their family members themselves
- The guilt that often overwhelms them when they discover they lack the intellectual, physical or emotional resources to care for their loved ones properly.
Families seeking care must be aware of the fact that there is a big unstated problem. This is the feeling of being a bad spouse or daughter, or son, or daughter who is unable or unwilling to sacrifice her own life to care for a loved family member. Bright House does not want to ignore this feeling. We do however assure families that allowing us to care for their loved one is a loving, kind and generous act.
Competiton
Families can choose from a variety of options when looking for nursing home care. They have the option to use in-hospital recovery centres, for-profit chains or specialized care for people suffering from Alzheimer’s, AIDS and diabetes. The closest care facility to our model is the specialized care facility. These facilities offer personalized nursing care but are usually reserved for individuals with particular medical issues.
Why Us
Bright House promotes dignity and self-worth in all our residents and strives to provide a high quality of life for them as individuals and groups. We encourage residents to participate in decision-making by the House Councils. Residents also have access to all areas of Bright House. They can also choose their own activities, socialization and food preferences. Bright House does not provide care, but it is their home.