What is Eden Alternative?

The Eden Alternative™ is a powerful tool for improving the quality of life for people who live in long term care or other institutional facilities. It is a new way of thinking about elder care and it has the potential of remaking the long-term care industry.

The Eden Alternative seeks to eliminate the three most devastating plagues of the long-term care institution – loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. The opportunity to give care for other living things, companion animals, children, the variety and spontaneity that mark an enlivened environment can succeed where pills and therapies often fail.

The Eden Alternative movement is rapidly growing across the country since its conception and development by Dr. William Thomas and Judy Meyers-Thomas in 1991. Edenizing nursing homes have demonstrated positive results in:

• Staff morale and reduced turnover
• Reduced medication use
• Decreased mortality rates
• Reduced infection rates
• Increased number of visitors, including children and families
• How is the Eden Alternativeä facility different from a regular nursing home?

A nursing home that adopts the Eden Alternative principles has:

Empowered staff and residents! Each staff member is valued. Residents have opportunities to give care, not just receive care. Decisions include residents, staff, and family input. Inter-departmental teams work together to achieve an obvious spirit among residents and staff.

Community! The nursing home is actually a part of the community. Volunteers of all ages abound. Residents are contributing. True partnerships are formed.

Pets! Lots of animals that live in the home. Birds in every resident’s room, aviaries, dogs, cats, rabbits, any animal agreed upon by the residents.

Plants! Lots of plants, inside and out. Close to the resident. Plants that the residents grow or just enjoy, gardens full of herbs, flowers, vegetables.

Children! The opportunity to develop relationships with younger people and as a daily part of life. On-site daycare, scout troops, ball clubs, latchkey child care, student volunteers, summer camps.

The Eden Alternative is not a program, it is a transformation. It is an ongoing process of education and growth. A facility must demonstrate its adoption and application of the Eden Principles to be included on the national registry of Eden Alternative organizations.

Call StarLife Services and Resources, Inc.

Eden growth is certainly a dynamic process and every facility will develop and grow their Eden garden differently and with varying pace. We are able to help you assess your readiness for Eden development and guide you through the process to make your facility an Eden Alternative home.

We are Eden Alternative Associates and Mentors. StarLife Services was selected by the EA organization to serve as the Regional Coordinator for Region 15 (AL, MS, GA) from 1999 to 2004 and conducted the Eden Associate Training Course. We can provide you with:

On site consultation and support: Sheridan has consulted with at least a dozen facilities specifically for the purpose of Eden training and guiding them through the Vision, Education, and Implementation phases of the Eden Alternative. Also, networking and peer support is essential in the transformation to the Eden Alternative model. Let us connect you with others who have chosen this path.

Presentations: Sheridan has done Eden Alternative presentations to state and regional conferences and trained in all the elements of the Eden Alternative within facilities. She also coordinates and conducts Eden Associate training sessions. See the Events Calendar at www.edenalt.com for dates and locations of Eden Alternative Associate training courses.

Tools and resources necessary for training, guidance, and to help you keep things organized:

• Training aids
• Policies and Procedures
• Educational materials / resources related to team and neighborhood development, pets, plants, empowerment, fund raising, budget planning.
• Guidelines and tools for organizational structure, participatory leadership, team development, team leading, conducting meetings, maintaining team records and your Eden journal.
• Role descriptions for teams, specialty committees, Community and advisory boards, team leaders, coaches, etc.
• Success depends on opening hearts and minds within your organization. Passion for change, patience, careful planning and thorough education are essential ingredients.

"A Garden does not grow in frozen ground."*

*Open Hearts Open Minds by Dr. William Thomas.