Home-like, resident-centered small designs

EK Life Safety Consulting is uniquely positioned to help you design small, resident-centered facilities that will meet all DADS and NFPA 101 Life Safety requirements. This type of structure includes such designs as the Green House® concept.

EK Life Safety Consulting has worked extensively with the DADS Architectural and Plan Review Office, as well as local DADS Life Safety offices, to understand how these new designs fit into the State of Texas Life Safety requirements. In addition, as of Spring 2008, we are the only Life Safety company to have had the privilege of inspecting all four Green House® buildings constructed in Texas. EK Life Safety Consulting was involved in making several design changes for these projects to conform to the more rigorous Life Safety requirements in the State of Texas. Without these changes, it is unlikely the buildings would have passed their initial Life Safety licensing survey and would have later required expensive modifications.

For owners’ opinions of how we contributed to the success of their Green Houses®, click on their names below:

Patrick L. Crump, President and CEO, Baptist Memorials Ministries
Charlie Wilson, Vice President of Operations, Buckner Retirement Services

Remodeling for a more home-like atmosphere

Is your facility of a traditional institutional design, and you are now considering remodeling to divide the building into smaller living spaces? EK Life Safety Consulting has been, and is currently, involved in several remodeling projects that will allow traditional buildings to provide all the benefits of resident-centered living in a smaller, more home-like setting, without compromising Life Safety and DADS licensing requirements.

Resident-centered designs aren’t just for Nursing facilities

EK Life Safety Consulting has also accumulated significant experience with small, home-like Assisted Living designs. We have not only assisted with conversions of existing houses to become licensed, but we have worked on several new designs that have been created from the ground up to be resident-centered yet still efficient and profitable.

Of course, ICF/MR facilities have always led the way in the concepts of resident-centered care in a home-like setting. EK Life Safety Consulting has assisted in evaluating existing properties for conversion to licensing in the ICF/MR program.

Life Safety requirements are tough, but not impossible to meet

Although health care licensing standards are rigorous, it IS still possible to change the culture of health care. Senior leaders at DADS have expressed their support for culture change, but have also stated that Life Safety will not be compromised. With our unique experience, EK Life Safety Consulting can translate the concept of culture change to practical and identifiable steps. We can help you avoid costly miscues in this time of transition to a better culture of care for seniors.