Extended Family Residences™ are Elder Care communities that honor and validate elders. We nurture belonging, influence and purpose of Residents, staff, and family members through design, relationship based model of care, and technology.

Belonging honors our need to connect with others.

Residents, staff, and family members form a group identity and view themselves as a critical piece of a larger group. Building meaningful relationships among community members makes each household a home, where individuals support one another. Extended Family Residences™ support Belonging by:

• - Honoring the Resident’s existing support network. The Resident’s family is embraced as a crucial part of the team, and encouraged to participate in Extended Family Residences™.
• - Extended Family Residences™ support the creation of new relationships, because the houses’ small scale facilitates an understanding among participants.
• - Residents, staff and family members work together to make the household the best possible place to live. Group interactions and problem solving builds community.
• - Through making real life decision as a group, household members build new memories together, and enjoy sharing them with others.

Influence over our environment facilitates freedom of choice.

Residents have influence over their environment through participation in household management and daily operations including menu and event planning. Influence begins with physical ability. Those who are able to get to the kitchen independently choose when they would like to get up. Designed without hallways, Extended Family Residences™ intend to maximize the individual’s physical ability. Secondly, Residents, staff, and family members are engaged in the household decision making processes. Extended Family Residences™ support Influence by:

• - Designing barrier free, fully accessible households that individuals of any ability level can navigate.
• - Keeping household decisions on the household level. The Operations Manager is accessible to all household members. Weekly household meetings provide an opportunity to discuss household issues and make real decisions.
• - A simple, consistent and routine environment makes it possible to choose when and where to participate. Empowerment is not only having the ability to choose, but also understanding that choice exists.

Purpose in life engages us to the utmost of our abilities.

When life has Purpose, we have a reason to get out of bed. Making a difference in the world around us drives us throughout our life. This does not change as we age. Participants of Extended Family Residences™ are expected to allow others to contribute to their life. In our communities, Residents have an opportunity to give back to those they interact with by acting as mentors, or by forming meaningful relationships. This is how Purpose is realized:

• The small scale of the household, coupled with a strong group identity allows all participants to form a niche.
• Residents, staff, and family members are encouraged to acknowledge their appreciation for one another.
• Residents participate in a real way in their household. Through their contributions, Residents form a lasting legacy.

Our philosophy is embedded in design, model of care, and technology.

A home environment builds familiarity among residents, staff, and family members and nourishes meaningful relationships.

Extended Family Residences’ model of care encourages relationships, and active participation of Residents, staff, and family members. This is achieved by structuring the day around the resident, consistent and routine touch points with participants, and honoring time with the residents.

A fully integrated information system designed by Elite CARE Technologies empowers elders, while building community and supporting the Organizational structure.