“Well-being is a much larger idea than either quality of life or customer satisfaction. It is based on a holistic understanding of human needs and capacities. Well-being is elusive, highly subjective, and the most valuable of all human possessions.”
– Dr. Bill Thomas, What Are Old People For
Well-being is the path to a life worth living. It is the ultimate outcome of a human life. Through a grant-funded collaborative effort, The Eden Alternative brought together a task force of culture change experts in 2004 and identified the seven Eden Alternative Domains of Well-Being℠. Together, they serve as a simple framework for asking thoughtful questions that help identify the unmet needs of those we care for:
- IDENTITY—being well-known; having personhood; individuality; having a history
- GROWTH—development; enrichment; expanding; evolving
- AUTONOMY—liberty; self-determination; choice; freedom
- SECURITY—freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear; safety; privacy; dignity; respect
- CONNECTEDNESS—belonging; engaged; involved; connected to time, place, and nature
- MEANING—significance; heart; hope; value; purpose; sacredness
- JOY—happiness; pleasure; delight; contentment; enjoyment
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