The Green House Project is redefining what it means to age with dignity. Partnering with Vernon Homes, this innovative model replaces institutional nursing care with small, home-like settings that empower residents, support caregivers, and create real communities rooted in respect, comfort, and connection.

As the federal government commits to increasing private rooms and phasing out multi-bed wards, the Green House Project model gains national momentum. Vernon Homes is proud to lead Vermont’s first Green House community, creating real homes where elders thrive in comfort, dignity, and connection.

Outdated regulations and funding models keep traditional nursing homes locked in an institutional past. To create real homes that honor dignity and autonomy, policymakers must update rules to encourage small-home development, reward innovation, and expand home-based care options. The Green House Project model offers a proven path forward — replacing impersonal facilities with warm, empowering communities where elders truly thrive.

The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association found that residents of Green Houses and other smaller nursing homes (NH) are less likely to contract or die from COVID-19 than residents of larger facilities.