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Background The Eden Alternative is based on the core belief that aging should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline, The Eden Alternative is seeking to remake the experience of aging around the world. The bulk of our work to date has been in de-institutionalizing the culture and environment of today’s nursing and residential homes and other long term care facilities. Founded in 1991 by Dr. William Thomas the Eden Alternative has trained over 20,000 Eden Associates around the world and now claims over 3000 registered homes in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The staff and management of these homes continue to work towards meaningful culture change through ongoing training and a continued dedication to creating a life worth living for those in their care. The Eden Alternative philosophy of care is strikingly simple. Regional coordinators, mentors and Eden Associates teach that elders must live in habitats for human beings, not sterile medical institutions. They are dedicated to eliminating the plagues of Loneliness, Helplessness, and Boredom that make life intolerable in so many of today’s nursing and residential homes. The Eden Alternative is about changing the culture of long-term care organizations. The departmentalized, task-orientation of the current institutional model has created a culture that is characterized by pessimism, cynicism and stinginess. By moving away from the top-down bureaucratic approach to management and moving decision making closer to the Elders, Edenizing organizations are helping to support a meaningful life for their Elders. Studies show that implementation of The Eden Alternative is a powerful tool for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in nursing homes. Also, homes that have adopted Eden as an organizational-wide philosophy have found that there is improved staff satisfaction and retention and significant decreases in the overuse of medications and restraints. Most importantly, Elders, supported by their caregivers, can once again direct their own daily lives. The Ten Eden Alternative Principles
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For all enquiries contact June Burgess Regional Coordinator for the Eden Alternative,, UK & Ireland 19 Woolley Drive Bradford on Avon Wiltshire BA15 1AU
Phone: 01225 309238 E-mail:june.burgess2@btinternet.com
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