Willow Ridge

Willow Ridge of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio is a nursing home in Bluffton, Ohio, featuring the first Green House homes in the state. The community offers skilled nursing care in a residential model designed to prioritize privacy, dignity, and individualized attention.

The Green House concept transforms the traditional nursing home environment by organizing residents into smaller household units with private bedrooms and bathrooms. Each home includes a front porch, back patio, and large yard for visiting, along with patio-connected homes and a secure garden walkway that allows neighbors to visit one another easily. The community maintains an excellent staff-to-resident ratio compared to traditional nursing homes, with caregivers and nurses working alongside residents to create a household atmosphere of support.

Care is guided by five core principles called P.E.A.R.L.S: Preferences, where residents actively participate in decisions about their care and activities; Environment, providing private living spaces; Relationships, where caregivers transform the institution into a household of love; Life, offering opportunities for purposeful engagement; and Support through the broader community. Research shows Green House residents experience four times more personal and social contact than residents in traditional nursing homes.

The community offers activities including Bible studies, birthday celebrations, games, and social events. The design keeps residents in the role of decision-maker, emphasizing that residents rule and are involved in shaping their daily lives and care plans. Families work together with the caregivers, known as Shahbazim, and nursing staff to create individualized support.