Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland, CA renewed their Eden Registry status on January 18, 2012. They are home to about 160 Elders receiving assisted and skilled care support. Their home has been a part of the Oakland community for over 100 years! They have lots of animals living in the home plus those that visit. It is great to see how the animals bring a light into the Elders' faces. The home is in a lovely setting with five acres of grounds. They have vegetable and flower gardens all around the building and a courtyard that people enjoy spending time in all year round. It feels likes being in nature although they are in an urban area. Breakfast is served when the Elder awakens. Lunch and dinner are the big meals where everyone eats together. You'll learn at lunchtime what the 'word of the day' is. Apparently, desserts are a big hit in this home. The relationships are strong in this home because of the consistency of the care partners and the very high employee retention rate they have. This home has a strong focus on end-of-life care using hospice and palliative care. They are weaving technology into the home in the form of electronic medical records and legacy creation through LifeBio on their It's Never Too Late computer system. Youth from the community volunteer and help write Elder legacy stories. They have a music therapist that does both spontaneous and planned musical activities. They are working with a local college to bring in art students to do projects with the Elders. This community has a strong sense of interdependence. Everyone is sharing and caring for each other. It will be fun to see what happens next on their journey!