The Experience of Aging, Part VII - The Eden Alternative
Long-term care has been considered many not to have evolved as quickly or as profoundly as other points along the health care continuum. However, many models have been and are continuing to be developed that provide a radically new way of viewing the care of older residents who often must live out their days in a care facility. One example is the Eden Alternative.
The Eden Alternative is an organization based on the core belief that aging should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline.
Founded in 1991 by Dr. William Thomas, a Harvard-educated physician and board-certified geriatrician, the Eden Alternative is being used in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The staff and management of the facilities using this model work toward culture change through a dedication to improving the quality of life for those in their care.
The Eden Alternative shows how companionship, the opportunity to give meaningful care to other living things, and the variety and spontaneity that mark an enlivened environment can succeed where pills and therapies often fail. Places that have adopted the Eden Alternative typically are filled with plants, animals and are regularly visited by children.
Studies have shown that the Eden Alternative has been a tool for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in long term care facilities. In those that have adopted Eden as an organizational-wide philosophy, there is often improved staff satisfaction and retention and significant decreases in the overuse of medications and restraints. Most importantly, Elders, supported by their caregivers, are better able to direct their own lives and feel a greater sense of control over their environment.
For more information, go to the Eden Alternative's Web site.