Officials speak at the grand opening of Morris Hall Meadows on Oct. 21. Pictured are Msgr. Hugh Ronan, left, chair of the Morris Hall/St. Lawrence Board of Trustees; Diocese of Trenton Bishop David O’Connell; Darlene Hanley, president and CEO of Morris Hall/St. Lawrence; freeholder Pat Colavita; and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes.
Morris Hall Meadows, an innovative new adult care community, celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 21.
In remarks during the ceremony, which was attended by numerous elected and Catholic Church officials, Darlene Hanley, president and CEO of Morris Hall/St. Lawrence, called the development the “nursing home of the future.”
The Meadows, which shares a campus with St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, features six 6,500 square-foot houses — each with 10 private bedrooms and bathrooms. The development, which is planned to have 12 residences at full buildout, is bounded by Franklin Corner Road, Rt. 206 and Rt. 95.
The Meadows is based on the Green House model developed by Dr. Bill Thomas, an international authority on geriatric medicine and eldercare. The model emphasizes three core values — a meaningful life, empowered staff and a real home.
“The residents will live in actual homes offering more privacy and comfort than traditional nursing home settings,” said a press release. “The residents’ healthcare, wellness and social needs are supported by a multi-disciplinary staff of professionals.”
At the center of each home, and accessible to residents at all times, are a hearth room with a fireplace facing a patio, a shared dining room and an open kitchen, as well as a spa area and library.
Each home in the Meadows is staffed by a self-managed team of workers called “Shahbazim,” derived from a Persian word meaning guardian. The Shahbazim are certified nursing assistants who have advanced training and are present at all times for the needs, care and comfort of residents.
“Our goal is for each Morris Hall Meadows resident to have a meaningful life with as much autonomy over his or her activities as they choose,” says the Meadows web site. “Residents control their own daily routines and rhythms for waking, sleeping, meals, self-care and alone time. Each has direct involvement in his or her own care plan, and all residents enjoy formal and informal opportunities for engagement inside and outside of the home.”
“The goal of Morris Hall Meadows is to give options to consumers,” said Hanley. “This Green House community is the second one in New Jersey and the first in Mercer County. We welcome the opportunity to share this unique project with the community and are pleased to offer both traditional and innovative options in nursing home care.”
Other officials attending the grand opening included: Diocese of Trenton Bishop David O’Connell, who blessed the community; Mercer County executive Brian Hughes; freeholder Pat Colavita; Msgr. Hugh Ronan, chair of the Morris Hall/St. Lawrence Board of Trustees; Susan Frazier Ryan, senior director of the Green House Project; and Nancy Fishman, senior program director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For more information on the Meadows, call (609) 895-1937 or go to morrishall.org.
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