paul advocates strongly for a radical rethink of how older Tasmanian's could live and age well. paul proposes creating hundreds more small home-like residences based on a person-centered model that support autonomy, dignity, relationships and quality of life.

paul seeks deep debate on the development of alternative aged care accommodation that replaces large, institutional homes (50-200 beds) with smaller, home-like residences where 10-12 elders live together.

paul supports transition to facilities that are small-scale, and have home-like design; that have consistent staffing using a person-centred philosophy, performing universal worker roles. paul believes this will enable older Tasmanian's to live a full life until the end, in a real home, with choices, deep relationships and home-like comfort.

Inspired by the Green House Project, founded by Dr Bill Thomas in the United State of America in the early 2000s, paul supports investment in real home-like facilities for older Tasmanians.

The Green House model house has:

• 10-12 residents per home.
• Feels and looks like a family home, with a layout that fosters a community-oriented environment where residents can engage in daily activities and maintain a sense of normalcy and independence.
• Private bedrooms and bathrooms.
• A central open kitchen and family-style dining.
• A living room with a fireplace.
• Access to outdoors and gardens.

The Green House model is underpinned by:

• A dedicated, consistent team of staff called Shahbazim - universal workers who do care, cooking, cleaning — and build real bonds with residents.
• Empowered culture - Shahbazim are trained to innovate and solve problems, not just follow orders.
• Person-directed care - Elders decide when to wake, eat, bathe — real autonomy.
• Deep relationships - foster trust and emotional safety

The evidence suggests, Green House model homes have better outcomes. Furthermore, the research suggests: fewer hospital readmissions; lower rates of pressure ulcers, weight loss, infections; higher family satisfaction and staff job satisfaction; and residents have more meaningful activities, more control, more connection to daily life and better mental health. One landmark study found Green House residents lived longer, with better quality of life than those in conventional nursing homes.

Inspiration

Australia’s Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety actually cited the Green House Model as an inspiring example for transforming residential aged care in Australian.

Healthia Residential Care Home opened in August 2023 in Elizabeth, South Australia

paul's paternal grandfather entered residential aged care in Launceston in 2006. paul acknowledges two decades have passed and many improvements in accommodation and service standards have been achieved (or attempted) since then, however the memories of the small poorly lit first floor room where his Pop laid on his bed for most of each day still distresses him. Hope, however, comes from paul observing the improvement in his Pop's mood and level of physical and social activity when he was relocated to a brighter ground floor room with sliding door to a court yard garden. Always an avid gardener, paul's Pop planted tomatoes in the flower garden and tended to them everyday, inspiring new connections with his peers in the court yard, and a blossoming relationship with a female resident in a neighboring room.