July 3, 2008

Ave Maria Gains Approval to Begin Green House Project

The State of Tennessee has approved Ave Maria's Certificate of Need (CON) application to build four Green House® homes on its property in Bartlett, Tennessee. Later this summer, Ave Maria will break ground to build four, 7,500 square foot homes which will replace the east wing of its 50-year-old nursing home. Each home will provide private bedrooms and baths for ten residents, a common hearth area, kitchen, and dining room, screened porch, as well as a landscaped garden and patio.

Modeled after the successful Green House® project in Tupelo, Mississippi, Ave Maria will be the first West Tennessee facility to build Green Houses, which offer an innovative approach to long-term residential care. Currently, there are 15 Green House sites around the country.

The Green House concept was the vision of Dr. William "Bill" Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative, a nurturing, garden-like approach to long-term care, introducing pets and plants into nursing homes, and focusing on the dignity and well being of residents. Green Houses offers small, private homes where elders live together in intentional community and manage their daily schedules. As the name implies, Green Houses provide homes where elders come to live, not to die.

Ave Maria has already raised $4.9 million of the $6.4 million needed to construct the Green Houses. Each home will take approximately 9-12 months to build and will meet or exceed all federal and state regulations. All beds will be designated for Medicare Part A services (skilled nursing care).

For more information about Ave Maria's Green Houses, contact Frank J. Gattuso, Executive Director, at 901-386-3211.