In partnership with The Leonard Florence Center for Living on Admiral’s Hill in Chelsea, the ALS Association, Massachusetts Chapter, has announced plans for the first ever – and America’s only – permanent residence dedicated to caring for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

A second residence in the 10-home complex is slated for residents with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Leonard Florence Center is expected to break ground in mid-2008, with a 14-month construction timeline.

For residents of all ages with ALS or MS who will call it home, their state-of-the-art residences in the Center will combine cutting edge technology with compassionate delivery of care. Each 7,000-square-foot residence will be comprised of ten private bedrooms, each with private handicapped accessible bath and shower; state-of-the-art assistive and augmentative technology, skilled staff, a family-style kitchen, and a fireplaced hearth.

The Green House® Difference

The vision for these specialized residences is based on the Green Hous®e model, developed by Dr. William Thomas. This unique concept is intended to de-institutionalize long-term care by eliminating large nursing facilities and creating “living-friendly,” social settings.

The goal of the ALS and MS residences is to design and develop  “smart houses” that promote and support independence, regardless of the stage of the illness. Residents will encounter no long corridors or nurses’ stations. Due to the unique architecture and small footprint of each Green House, cane-dependent or wheelchair-bound individuals will have independent mobility with meaningful choices and dignity. All efforts will be focused on sustaining mobility and, thus, lessoning physical demands. Furthermore, the comfortable nature of the residence is intended to foster companionship and camaraderie.

“Technology to manage a house – Care-giving to make it a home”

Through a collaborative effort with the Assistive Technology Program of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, special adaptive devices will be designed for each individual, depending upon the degree of disability. A resident will have access to his or her own “command center,” comprised of switch-activated computerized sensors to open and close doors, turn lights on or off, adjust temperature settings, surf the web, or navigate television channels. Through his or her command center, the ALS or MS resident will be able to take the elevator to the lobby café, venture outdoors to the veranda or the garden, order a cold drink from the lobby café via email or schedule a field trip with the transportation coordinator.

In preparation for the day, staff will assist in a variety of routine tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting. Each house will have its own dedicated staff of “shahbazim,” caregivers who are devoted to the arts of homemaking and lovingly prepared meals. Residents will enjoy home-cooked meals prepared in their own kitchens and served at a common table just a few yards from their rooms at the time of their choice. A separate clinical support team — including nurses, social workers, therapists, medical directors, nutritionists, and pharmacists — will visit the house regularly to provide services as needed. Full respiratory support will be available for those who require a ventilator

The location - Admirals Hill in Chelsea, Massachusetts - is convenient to Boston for medical resources and social and cultural events. In short, every effort – from the ground up – is dedicated to making the Leonard Florence Center “home.