Local seniors find a home, not in a home in elder care facilities

CINCINNATI - If you have ever struggled with the idea of placing a loved one in a nursing home you likely know about both the stress and stigma that comes with that decision. 

Channel 9's Lance Barry investigated how some local facilities have overcome that.  They have done it by reinventing themselves and placing seniors in a setting where they feel like they are at home, rather than in a home.

Luscious gardens. Picturesque fountains. Spacious pools. State of the art gyms. Is it the swankiest of country clubs? The hottest cruise ship? A five star hotel? Nope, it's what more and more nursing homes have become, and what they no longer are.

"The cocktail parties are always fun. People ask, so you have a lot of meatloaf? I say meatloaf? Last night we had scallops in a lobster sauce," said Pat Donaldson. Donaldson is a resident of Deupree House in Oakley, run by Episcopal Retirement Homes .

Doug Spitler is Episcopal's President and CEO.  As he walked through the halls recently of a facility he oversees, the residents there genuinely know him, by first name.  "Happy birthday," he said to one. 

Spitler stresses that luxurious amenities are nice for residents to ease them into the long-term care process. 

"Very important as seniors make decisions, the types of amenities they want to be in," said Spitler.  He also says changing the culture of nursing homes is even more important, something Episcopal calls "person-centered care." 

"They decide when they get up in the morning, when they go to bed at night, the types of activities they are engaged in. It restores freedom and purpose," said Spitler.

In some areas of Deupree, person-centered care features welcoming, wide open community areas in cottage style buildings where residents enjoy interaction and activity.

"I love to be active in whatever community I'm in," said Carol Starrett. Starrett lives at Episcopal's Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Home just off Hyde Park's square. 

Her son Scott lives in California, a distance that would create anxiety for some.  But at Lee, care has gone 2010, with nursing staff even going as far as to text message family members updates on their loved ones. 

"He loves that...he tries to come out, once a month, to Cincinnati," said Starrett.

"We find that with many of our families, that is one of the most important things. Whether they are out of town, as Carol mentioned with Scott, or they are very busy with their own kids and their own careers, so we kind of take up that slack," said Peggy Slade-Sowders. Slade-Sowders is the Manager of Episcopal's Living Well Senior Solutions program.

More and more places are taking the institution out of the institution in an industry that is projected to double in size in the next 30 years.

Episcopal claims they are able to concentrate more on their residents because they are a not-for-profit organization, which allows them to reinvest funds rather than pay investors. They also do offer low-income and community outreach programs as well, including Meals On Wheels.