As we age, what we want from home often changes, and many seniors start considering various options for long-term care. Safety and support matter, but so do comfort, independence, relationships, and the ability to live life on your terms.
That’s why many seniors and families are rethinking traditional nursing homes and looking instead at the household model of senior living, sometimes called the small home model. This growing approach to senior care replaces large, institutional environments with smaller, more personal households that truly feel like home.
So what exactly is the household model—and why are so many people calling it the future of senior living?
What Is the Household Model of Senior Living?
The household model of senior living is a person-centered approach to care that features small, self-contained households, typically made up of 10–20 residents within a larger senior living community.
Instead of long hallways, shared rooms, and rigid schedules, residents live together in a warm, residential-style home with:
- Private bedrooms and bathrooms
- A shared kitchen
- Open living and dining spaces
- Consistent caregivers who truly know them
The goal is simple but powerful: create a place that feels like home, not a facility.
Why the Household Model Feels So Different (and Better)
Traditional senior care settings often prioritize efficiency. The household model prioritizes people.
Every design choice—from the floor plan to daily routines—is intentional, supporting dignity, comfort, and choice. This model challenges outdated ideas of what senior living “has to be” and replaces them with something far more human.
A “Best of All Worlds” Home Design
Household-style senior living combines privacy and community in a way few models can.
Residents enjoy:
- Their own private bedroom and bathroom
- Shared living spaces that encourage connection
- A real kitchen where meals are prepared and enjoyed together
It looks and feels much more like a home you’d choose, not a place you’re sent.
More Freedom, More Choice, More Control
One of the biggest advantages of the small home model is autonomy.
Unlike traditional nursing homes with fixed schedules, the household model gives residents the choice to:
- Wake up when they want
- Eat when they’re hungry
- decide how they spend their day
Want a quiet morning with a book? That’s fine. Prefer lively conversation over coffee in the kitchen? That’s welcome too.
This flexibility helps residents maintain a sense of purpose and independence, something that’s often lost in more institutional settings.
A Person-Centered Approach to Care
At the heart of the household model is person-centered care.
Care isn’t built around routines or task lists; it’s built around individuals. Services are tailored to each resident’s needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
Caregivers in household settings are often cross-trained to assist with everything from personal care to meal preparation. This consistency allows staff and residents to build genuine relationships, creating a sense of trust, familiarity, and family.
Better Health Outcomes—Physically and Emotionally
Research shows that smaller, more personal care environments can lead to improved health outcomes for seniors.
Benefits often include:
- Fewer falls and infections
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Improved emotional well-being
- Stronger social connections
Living in a close-knit, homelike environment supports both physical health and emotional resilience.
Why the Household Model Matters During Public Health Crises
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a major strength of the household model: resilience.
Smaller group sizes and self-contained households make it easier to:
- Control infections
- Limit exposure
- Maintain social connection even during isolation
Residents benefit not only from safer environments but also from the emotional support that comes with familiar faces and strong relationships. These social connections help to mitigate the negative mental health impacts of isolation during such times.
A Better Vision for the Future of Senior Living
The household model of senior living represents a meaningful shift in long-term care—one that puts dignity, choice, and community first.
As our population ages, this approach offers a more compassionate, fulfilling, and sustainable way to support older adults through every stage of life.
Experience the Household Model at Chapel Pointe
Chapel Pointe is a faith-based, nonprofit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) serving adults 62+ in Central Pennsylvania. Our mission is to enhance quality of life by supporting residents’ mental, physical, and spiritual well-being every single day.
Our skilled nursing care, known as The Households, has been recognized as The Best Nursing Home Facility of Cumberland County and a Medicare five-star community. We’re honored by the trust families place in us.
At Chapel Pointe:
- Residents enjoy private accommodations in all levels of care
- Daily life is guided by personal choice, not rigid schedules
- Care is delivered with respect, compassion, and consistency
In The Households, residents decide when to wake up, when to eat, and how to spend their day. What’s often lost in traditional nursing homes is restored here: the power to choose.
If you’d like to learn more about the household model, or what life at Chapel Pointe could look like for you or someone you love, we’d be happy to connect.
Contact us today to learn more about The Households at Chapel Pointe.