Our #GivingTuesday Countdown Challenge Six practices down. Twenty-two to go. Today, we will unpack Practices 7-13. As I said last week in the first part of this 4-blog series, we see #GivingTuesday (Dec. 3) as an opportunity to engage lots
In honor of #GivingTuesday on December 3, we are giving you the gift of care. We bring you our #GivingTuesday Countdown Challenge. Each week, between now and December 3, we will post a new set of caring practices that put the person
Dr. Eleanor Feldman Barbera’s article in McKnights, “What worries me about trauma-informed care,” raises key concerns about implementation of the Phase 3 CMS mandates for nursing homes, and is a must-read as we seek to do the right thing in
We have something to celebrate! Last week, Health Professions Press released a new book by Jill Vitale-Aussem, President & CEO of The Eden Alternative®. In this video interview, Jill shares the inspiration behind Disrupting the Status Quo in Senior Living:
The Eden Alternative is associated with higher CMS Star Ratings and lower anti-psychotic use. Wow! July was an exciting month for The Eden Alternative. We received results from two different studies showing significant correlation between the implementation of The Eden
Parker at Somerset, located in Somerset, NJ is the fourth Parker home to join the Eden Registry. They are in the process of a major renovation, which will transform the current, rather institutional looking environment into 3 smaller homes. While
We recently welcomed our newest Registry Member, The Oaks at Hampton! Located in Cumming, GA, this assisted living community knows what home is. As a part of Oaks Senior Living, the philosophy they live by is to enrich the lives
It’s throwback time. This 2017 post is getting a dusting off and another day in the sun. The Call for Presentations is open for our 2020 Eden Alternative International Conference until June 21, and we thought you could use some
I remember when audio tapes and tape players were a brand new thing. Memorex was a company that made cassettes on which you could record voice and music. (The title to this blog was their advertising pitch.) I recorded songs
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Kimberly Wood to the Eden Alternative Home Office Team. Kimberly will work closely with our Education Coordinator, Meredith Martin, as Education Support. Like Meredith, she makes Murfreesboro, Tennessee her home, alongside her
Last week, we revealed the theme of our 2020 Conference: Move Mountains: Innovate. Collaborate. Get Results. If any organization can consistently show us how to innovate, collaborate and get results, it’s Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada. A recent article
Johnson Memorial Health Services (JMHS) in Dawson, Minnesota, became our latest Eden Registry Member on February 12, 2019. This stellar organization has services of all types to offer people, as their wants, needs, and desires change. Their new care center
Years ago, while volunteering each week at a local organization, I met a nice guy, Jim, who always wore the same hat… day in, day out. The rest of us benignly speculated about the ever-present hat… did he ever take
Breaking news! We, at The Eden Alternative, are so excited to announce the impending release of a new book by our President & CEO, Jill Vitale-Aussem. Soon to be available through Health Professions Press (HPP), Disrupting the Status Quo of
The Eden Alternative has lost a vital part of our global family – Paul Bailey, Eden Educator and Mentor in the UK. Paul and his wife, June, founded the Eden Alternative UK & Ireland in 2005. Together, they made a
Most of us have pretty intense work lives. Heads down, we move from one project or issue to the next, checking off boxes on our to-do lists. We know we’re busy and exhausted but we can’t always identify exactly what
Excellent leaders always seem to strive for something more, something better for their organizations. Deke Cateau is one of those leaders. We got to know Deke a few years back when he was COO of A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab,
I recently had the honor of joining a virtual ritual convened by Age Without Borders. We gathered in observance of the 11 souls lost – many of them Elders – in a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on October 27th. Our time
Guest bloggers Jennifer Carson and Pat Sprigg reflect on how to navigate life, we must embrace its complexity. Dementia support is no different. This blog was originally posted in ChangingAging.org. Some of the most important and sacred experiences in life
Our blog contributor Ashton Applewhite is author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Most Americans aren’t optimistic about getting older, and think the source of the problem is aging itself. So do most policy wonks, framing population aging
As kids head back to school, we’re asking for your help. It’s become a trend in schools around the US to celebrate the 100th day of school by holding a “Dress Like a 100-Year-Old Day.” Pinterest and some websites provide
As you may have seen in last week’s Washington Post article, there was a provision in a bill before the DC Council that would affect the future of assisted living communities in the Washington, DC. Area. The provision proposed that
Dr. Bill and Jude Thomas, Eden Alternative Co-Founders, hit the road along the Atlantic seaboard recently to connect with Elders and others in the spirit of gratitude. What inspired this journey? A desire to “express gratitude for the Elders we
A recent post in McKnight’s suggests that better employee/family member relationships might improve employee retention. This caught my eye, as I came to this work as a highly engaged family member. I can affirm that making every effort to deepen
Whether you made it to the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference (and just want more) or didn’t make it (and want some), you can either relive or experience for the first time several conference highlights on a special 2018 Conference
Our new President & CEO shares this touching reminder that together we are stronger. I travel a lot for work. But no matter how many flights I’ve been on I still get a little squeamish, especially in small planes and
It is little more than a week until we convene the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference. What better person could we call upon to pump up hundreds of change agents than Co-founder Dr. Bill Thomas? I recently had the pleasure
“Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social,
Over 25 years ago, Bill and Jude Thomas laid the groundwork for what became The Eden Alternative. What began as a set of principles has grown into a powerful, practical model for person-directed care. With years of experience guiding culture
I really enjoyed this opportunity to hear from Sonya Barsness about her project, BEING SEEN. Check out this interview to tap into the power of presence and how being seen is a fundamental need for those who live with dementia.
What a pleasure it was to chat with Karen Stobbe and Mondy Carter of In the Moment about their groundbreaking work with improv and transforming relationships with those living with dementia. Check out this interview to learn how it all
Morning Star Care Center in Ft. Washakie, WY, joined the Eden Registry on February 26, 2018. Former leaders of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe knew there was a great need for a safe place for tribal Elders to live, be cared
The right to determine how you are cared for, the right to live a life that truly reflects and celebrates who you are, regardless of age or ability – these are basic human rights. Worth rising up for? We, at
The Gardens at Depugh Nursing Center in Winter Park, Florida joined the Eden Alternative Registry on May 25, 2017. Home to 40 Elders they are situated on a historic 2.5-acre site in lovely downtown Winter Park. This beautiful home features
Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech left an indelible mark on the heart of millions. To this day, it remains a powerful reminder that all human beings seek to be seen, respected, honored, and empowered. While King
Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center in Green River, WY joined the Eden Registry on March 23, 2016. Located in the high desert of Wyoming, they are surrounded by rolling green fields and pine trees that provide breath taking views
As culture changers, we make it a daily practice to reach beyond labels and assumptions to deeply know each unique individual. Is it always easy? No. But we know that this alone makes it possible for us to transform the
We have all heard that people don’t quit companies; people quit managers. That may be true, but it could also be true that people don’t quit managers, they quit broken systems. Maybe they quit because they don’t fit it in,
I’m posting from the 2016 Leading Age Annual Meeting in Indianapolis and have just returned from a panel discussion about the age-friendly community movement. This global initiative takes a systems approach to creating communities that accommodate and value people of
Here’s a thoughtful reflection on the work of Bill Thomas by Nate Burgos of Design Feaster. This is just an excerpt from the whole piece, which explores wonder from a variety of perspectives. I’m struck by the phrase “Start living your damn
Dad’s lesson #5 is that specialists aren’t always special. Nancy Fox would tell you that as human beings, we are all about creating constituencies. It is amazing how fast a group of complete strangers can bond and begin to demonstrate
Lesson #4 from Dad is about the power of communication. We definitely experienced some poor communication during our journey with Dad. Part of it was the communication that should have happened, but didn’t. For example, when we said “no” to
Venetian Care and Rehabilitation Center in South Amboy, NJ, joined the Eden Registry on August 29, 2016. This beautiful new community completed in 2014 is home to 180 empowered Elders. Venetian was intentionally designed to create a sense of smallness
Lesson #2 from my Dad’s end-of-life journey is to watch out for Kahlid the Kind. Eden Alternative Principle Seven says, “Medical treatment should be the servant of genuine human caring, never its master.” Dr. Bill Thomas has written a story
My father passed away recently. It was unexpected; a stroke. Our family found ourselves in a 3-week journey with Dad that was infuriating, exasperating, surprising, and heartwarming all at the same time. I suspect it was much the same as
This article was published in PS Magazine in the November/December 2015 issue, Pages 22-23. After my mother passed away in 2010, my family gathered at a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio, Texas to take comfort in the ballads sung
I recently watched a video about finance. The speaker began by explaining why he had an old beat-up kitchen table on stage. He talked about the history of that kitchen table, which came from his home. Although he discussed it
4000 Valley Square in Grand Forks, ND, joined the Eden Registry on April 14, 2016. Elders in this community enjoy aging in place while benefiting from the many amenities this full continuum-of-care campus has to offer. Divided into 3 communities,
Tufte Manor in Grand Forks, North Dakota, joined the Eden Registry on April 13, 2016. This is a special place with special people living and working here. They enjoy the fact that they are located in a neighborhood where they
On Monday, ChangingAging posted a piece by Beth Baker featuring the work we do at The Eden Alternative through our Eden at Home initiative. It offers a powerful example of how one home and community-based organization in North Carolina is
Riverside Care and Rehabilitation in Calhoun, KY, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on 1/25/2016. Located in McClean County, they are home to 73 Elders that are enjoying their recently remodeled home. They have new hardwood floors, gorgeous paint colors and
Points West Living Wainwright in Alberta, Canada joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 21, 2016. This home is nestled in the small town of Wainwright, a unique town in Alberta that has a strong, vibrant & friendly community spirit.
Parkside Community in Chase, British Columbia, Canada, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 7, 2016, as our first new Registry Member of 2016. This is truly a living center with empowered Elders and employee care partners driving the rhythm
Points West Living Lloydminster in Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada joined the Eden Alternative Registry on 12/17/2015. There are 65 Elders that live in this vibrant and lively home. To create close and caring relationships, they are divided into 5 smaller cottages.
Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Center in Brodhead, KY, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on November 9, 2015. They are home to 104 Elders, some of which come in only for a short time to receive rehabilitation services. In order to
The Arbor’s of Del Rey in Las Cruces, New Mexico, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on October 27, 2015. When you come into this beautiful Southern New Mexico home you will find 24 Elders thriving and enjoying the natural rhythm
It’s 1995. My father, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, sits across from me in a restaurant in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He is quiet, staring at his hands in his lap. Most of the day, he’s seemed lost in his own world… one I can’t quite seem to reach. While we sit there, picking at our food, a Flamenco guitarist sets up in the corner of the room and begins to strum a few chords.
Change can be very tricky to affect. So many road blocks exist in the world of of eldercare; from institutional norms, to policies and regulations, to the existing culture of a home, to simple human inertia (an object at rest tends to stay at rest).
When visitors come to visit this vibrant home they often comment of how warm it feels when they walk through the doors. They notice the friendly faces of the care partner’s employees that greet them and the Elders that are happy and end engaged.
Bracken County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, KY joined the Eden Alternative Registry on May 27, 2014. Located on 50 acres just 45 miles outside of greater Cincinnati in the rural community of Chatham, Kentucky, they are home to
There was a time not too long ago when, if you stopped a stranger on the street to ask for the time, that person might reach into a pocket or purse, pull out a smart phone, and give you the answer. Unless he or she was wearing an old-fashioned wristwatch. In that case, it required only a glance at the wrist to come up with the answer.
The thing that continues to amaze me is that time and again I hear the refrain “I’m really not much of a writer.” I will hear this after just having read an amazing draft and it often reminds me of the Marianne Williamson quote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
Perhaps you saw the New York Times article this month In Race for Medicare Dollars, Nursing Homes May Lag. If you haven’t I would recommend taking the time to read it. The article touches on many distinct issues including how
Like many of you, I spend a good deal of time reading our Eden blogs along with the blogs on Changing Aging and other platforms. Generally I am inspired and sometimes find a point or two that strikes me in
Have you been more aware in your later years of the value of those deep and personal relationships with friends, family members, and fellow congregants? I find more and more value in these connections, in volunteering, in social activism than I have in the past. I desperately want others to share my journey, and I want to share theirs.
Changing the disrespectful and disempowering language often used to refer to people with dementia will help remove discrimination, stigma and isolation, writes Kate Swaffer.
How does your organization engage family members? So often our energy, enthusiasm, and focus are drawn towards creating caring partnerships between Elders and employees. I am not saying that the bulk of our efforts shouldn’t be devoted to that end, but what about the families? We know, however, that we need to build warm, compassionate teams that engage ALL care partners in the process of culture change.
Jerry Seinfeld, a man that most of us associate with humor, was recently quoted as saying “Movement is life”. That gave me pause because it might imply that those who are largely stationary; those whose movements have become smaller and
Human instinct is to look for a tech solution to most of our problems. Traveling to slow? Let’s build a car. Want to see pictures of cats? Let’s build the internet. Although, when it comes to aging technological innovation can
What if we were like trees in just one way, what if we showed our growth on the outside? What if with each passing year we grew taller and thicker? What if the oldest and wisest among us were the biggest and most majestic?
28 Simple Practices for Inspired Influencers, Part 2
Our #GivingTuesday Countdown Challenge Six practices down. Twenty-two to go. Today, we will unpack Practices 7-13. As I said last week in the first part of this 4-blog series, we see #GivingTuesday (Dec. 3) as an opportunity to engage lots
28 Simple Practices for Inspired Influencers, Part 1
In honor of #GivingTuesday on December 3, we are giving you the gift of care. We bring you our #GivingTuesday Countdown Challenge. Each week, between now and December 3, we will post a new set of caring practices that put the person
First, Do No Harm
Dr. Eleanor Feldman Barbera’s article in McKnights, “What worries me about trauma-informed care,” raises key concerns about implementation of the Phase 3 CMS mandates for nursing homes, and is a must-read as we seek to do the right thing in
A Video Interview with Jill Vitale-Aussem About Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Living
We have something to celebrate! Last week, Health Professions Press released a new book by Jill Vitale-Aussem, President & CEO of The Eden Alternative®. In this video interview, Jill shares the inspiration behind Disrupting the Status Quo in Senior Living:
The Proof is in the Data
The Eden Alternative is associated with higher CMS Star Ratings and lower anti-psychotic use. Wow! July was an exciting month for The Eden Alternative. We received results from two different studies showing significant correlation between the implementation of The Eden
Parker at Somerset Joins the Eden Registry
Parker at Somerset, located in Somerset, NJ is the fourth Parker home to join the Eden Registry. They are in the process of a major renovation, which will transform the current, rather institutional looking environment into 3 smaller homes. While
Welcoming The Oaks at Hampton
We recently welcomed our newest Registry Member, The Oaks at Hampton! Located in Cumming, GA, this assisted living community knows what home is. As a part of Oaks Senior Living, the philosophy they live by is to enrich the lives
The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Submit a Conference Presentation Proposal
It’s throwback time. This 2017 post is getting a dusting off and another day in the sun. The Call for Presentations is open for our 2020 Eden Alternative International Conference until June 21, and we thought you could use some
Is It Live, or Is It Memorex?
I remember when audio tapes and tape players were a brand new thing. Memorex was a company that made cassettes on which you could record voice and music. (The title to this blog was their advertising pitch.) I recorded songs
Meet Kimberly Wood
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Kimberly Wood to the Eden Alternative Home Office Team. Kimberly will work closely with our Education Coordinator, Meredith Martin, as Education Support. Like Meredith, she makes Murfreesboro, Tennessee her home, alongside her
Sherbrooke Shines Light on Surplus Safety
Last week, we revealed the theme of our 2020 Conference: Move Mountains: Innovate. Collaborate. Get Results. If any organization can consistently show us how to innovate, collaborate and get results, it’s Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada. A recent article
Johnson Memorial Health Services Joins the Eden Registry
Johnson Memorial Health Services (JMHS) in Dawson, Minnesota, became our latest Eden Registry Member on February 12, 2019. This stellar organization has services of all types to offer people, as their wants, needs, and desires change. Their new care center
What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You…And Others
Years ago, while volunteering each week at a local organization, I met a nice guy, Jim, who always wore the same hat… day in, day out. The rest of us benignly speculated about the ever-present hat… did he ever take
Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Living
Breaking news! We, at The Eden Alternative, are so excited to announce the impending release of a new book by our President & CEO, Jill Vitale-Aussem. Soon to be available through Health Professions Press (HPP), Disrupting the Status Quo of
Remembering Paul Bailey
The Eden Alternative has lost a vital part of our global family – Paul Bailey, Eden Educator and Mentor in the UK. Paul and his wife, June, founded the Eden Alternative UK & Ireland in 2005. Together, they made a
Making an Impact
Most of us have pretty intense work lives. Heads down, we move from one project or issue to the next, checking off boxes on our to-do lists. We know we’re busy and exhausted but we can’t always identify exactly what
Deke Cateau Joins the Eden Alternative Board of Directors
Excellent leaders always seem to strive for something more, something better for their organizations. Deke Cateau is one of those leaders. We got to know Deke a few years back when he was COO of A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab,
Tikkun Olam: Repair the World
I recently had the honor of joining a virtual ritual convened by Age Without Borders. We gathered in observance of the 11 souls lost – many of them Elders – in a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on October 27th. Our time
No Control Freaks Allowed: Embracing the Complexity of Dementia Support
Guest bloggers Jennifer Carson and Pat Sprigg reflect on how to navigate life, we must embrace its complexity. Dementia support is no different. This blog was originally posted in ChangingAging.org. Some of the most important and sacred experiences in life
Who’s Going to Create a Better Narrative of Old Age in America?
Our blog contributor Ashton Applewhite is author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Most Americans aren’t optimistic about getting older, and think the source of the problem is aging itself. So do most policy wonks, framing population aging
“Dress Like a 100-Year-Old Day”: A Call to Action
As kids head back to school, we’re asking for your help. It’s become a trend in schools around the US to celebrate the 100th day of school by holding a “Dress Like a 100-Year-Old Day.” Pinterest and some websites provide
Education, Not Segregation: Addressing the Stigma of Dementia
As you may have seen in last week’s Washington Post article, there was a provision in a bill before the DC Council that would affect the future of assisted living communities in the Washington, DC. Area. The provision proposed that
Gratitude Helps Us Grow – Dr. Bill & Jude Thomas’ Gratitude Tour
Dr. Bill and Jude Thomas, Eden Alternative Co-Founders, hit the road along the Atlantic seaboard recently to connect with Elders and others in the spirit of gratitude. What inspired this journey? A desire to “express gratitude for the Elders we
Stronger Together: Deepening Employee and Family Member Relationships
A recent post in McKnight’s suggests that better employee/family member relationships might improve employee retention. This caught my eye, as I came to this work as a highly engaged family member. I can affirm that making every effort to deepen
Ready, Set, Rewind… Conference Session Recordings Are Here
Whether you made it to the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference (and just want more) or didn’t make it (and want some), you can either relive or experience for the first time several conference highlights on a special 2018 Conference
Bumps, Bubble Gum, and Bravery
Our new President & CEO shares this touching reminder that together we are stronger. I travel a lot for work. But no matter how many flights I’ve been on I still get a little squeamish, especially in small planes and
Changing Aging with Dr. Bill Thomas
It is little more than a week until we convene the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference. What better person could we call upon to pump up hundreds of change agents than Co-founder Dr. Bill Thomas? I recently had the pleasure
A Serpent in the Garden
“Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social,
Breaking Ground with Jude Thomas
Over 25 years ago, Bill and Jude Thomas laid the groundwork for what became The Eden Alternative. What began as a set of principles has grown into a powerful, practical model for person-directed care. With years of experience guiding culture
Sonya Barsness Reflects on BEING SEEN
I really enjoyed this opportunity to hear from Sonya Barsness about her project, BEING SEEN. Check out this interview to tap into the power of presence and how being seen is a fundamental need for those who live with dementia.
Karen Stobbe and Mondy Carter are IN THE MOMENT
What a pleasure it was to chat with Karen Stobbe and Mondy Carter of In the Moment about their groundbreaking work with improv and transforming relationships with those living with dementia. Check out this interview to learn how it all
Our Newest Eden Registry Member – Morning Star Care Center
Morning Star Care Center in Ft. Washakie, WY, joined the Eden Registry on February 26, 2018. Former leaders of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe knew there was a great need for a safe place for tribal Elders to live, be cared
A City, a Story, a Movement…
The right to determine how you are cared for, the right to live a life that truly reflects and celebrates who you are, regardless of age or ability – these are basic human rights. Worth rising up for? We, at
Welcome The Garden’s at Depugh to the Eden Registry
The Gardens at Depugh Nursing Center in Winter Park, Florida joined the Eden Alternative Registry on May 25, 2017. Home to 40 Elders they are situated on a historic 2.5-acre site in lovely downtown Winter Park. This beautiful home features
Rise UP! Change Starts Here.
Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech left an indelible mark on the heart of millions. To this day, it remains a powerful reminder that all human beings seek to be seen, respected, honored, and empowered. While King
Help Us Welcome Mission at Castle Rock to the Registry
Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center in Green River, WY joined the Eden Registry on March 23, 2016. Located in the high desert of Wyoming, they are surrounded by rolling green fields and pine trees that provide breath taking views
“Otherization” … Fuel for Ageism, Foe to Person-Directed Culture
As culture changers, we make it a daily practice to reach beyond labels and assumptions to deeply know each unique individual. Is it always easy? No. But we know that this alone makes it possible for us to transform the
Broken Systems, Not Broken Managers
We have all heard that people don’t quit companies; people quit managers. That may be true, but it could also be true that people don’t quit managers, they quit broken systems. Maybe they quit because they don’t fit it in,
Beth Baker on the Village Movement and Cultivating Diversity
I’m posting from the 2016 Leading Age Annual Meeting in Indianapolis and have just returned from a panel discussion about the age-friendly community movement. This global initiative takes a systems approach to creating communities that accommodate and value people of
An Excerpt from “Relentlessly Pursuing Wonder: 9th Gathering of the Annual CUSP Conference”
Here’s a thoughtful reflection on the work of Bill Thomas by Nate Burgos of Design Feaster. This is just an excerpt from the whole piece, which explores wonder from a variety of perspectives. I’m struck by the phrase “Start living your damn
End of Life Lessons from Dad: Lesson #5
Dad’s lesson #5 is that specialists aren’t always special. Nancy Fox would tell you that as human beings, we are all about creating constituencies. It is amazing how fast a group of complete strangers can bond and begin to demonstrate
End of Life Lessons from Dad: Lesson #4
Lesson #4 from Dad is about the power of communication. We definitely experienced some poor communication during our journey with Dad. Part of it was the communication that should have happened, but didn’t. For example, when we said “no” to
Venetian Care and Rehabilitation Joins the Eden Registry
Venetian Care and Rehabilitation Center in South Amboy, NJ, joined the Eden Registry on August 29, 2016. This beautiful new community completed in 2014 is home to 180 empowered Elders. Venetian was intentionally designed to create a sense of smallness
End of Life Lessons from Dad: Lesson #2
Lesson #2 from my Dad’s end-of-life journey is to watch out for Kahlid the Kind. Eden Alternative Principle Seven says, “Medical treatment should be the servant of genuine human caring, never its master.” Dr. Bill Thomas has written a story
End-of-Life Lessons from Dad: Lesson #1
My father passed away recently. It was unexpected; a stroke. Our family found ourselves in a 3-week journey with Dad that was infuriating, exasperating, surprising, and heartwarming all at the same time. I suspect it was much the same as
Mariachi and Mom
This article was published in PS Magazine in the November/December 2015 issue, Pages 22-23. After my mother passed away in 2010, my family gathered at a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio, Texas to take comfort in the ballads sung
The Kitchen Table
I recently watched a video about finance. The speaker began by explaining why he had an old beat-up kitchen table on stage. He talked about the history of that kitchen table, which came from his home. Although he discussed it
4000 Valley Square Joins the Tribe
4000 Valley Square in Grand Forks, ND, joined the Eden Registry on April 14, 2016. Elders in this community enjoy aging in place while benefiting from the many amenities this full continuum-of-care campus has to offer. Divided into 3 communities,
Welcome to the Eden Family Tufte Manor
Tufte Manor in Grand Forks, North Dakota, joined the Eden Registry on April 13, 2016. This is a special place with special people living and working here. They enjoy the fact that they are located in a neighborhood where they
ChangingAging features Person-Directed Care in the Community through Eden at Home
On Monday, ChangingAging posted a piece by Beth Baker featuring the work we do at The Eden Alternative through our Eden at Home initiative. It offers a powerful example of how one home and community-based organization in North Carolina is
The Eden Alternative Registry Welcomes its Newest Member – Riverside Care and Rehabilitation Center
Riverside Care and Rehabilitation in Calhoun, KY, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on 1/25/2016. Located in McClean County, they are home to 73 Elders that are enjoying their recently remodeled home. They have new hardwood floors, gorgeous paint colors and
Welcome to the Registry Points West Living – Wainwright!
Points West Living Wainwright in Alberta, Canada joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 21, 2016. This home is nestled in the small town of Wainwright, a unique town in Alberta that has a strong, vibrant & friendly community spirit.
A New Year, A New Addition – Parkside Community
Parkside Community in Chase, British Columbia, Canada, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 7, 2016, as our first new Registry Member of 2016. This is truly a living center with empowered Elders and employee care partners driving the rhythm
Welcome Points West Living – Lloydminster
Points West Living Lloydminster in Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada joined the Eden Alternative Registry on 12/17/2015. There are 65 Elders that live in this vibrant and lively home. To create close and caring relationships, they are divided into 5 smaller cottages.
Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Joins the Eden Registry
Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Center in Brodhead, KY, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on November 9, 2015. They are home to 104 Elders, some of which come in only for a short time to receive rehabilitation services. In order to
Welcome The Arbors of Del Rey to the Eden Registry
The Arbor’s of Del Rey in Las Cruces, New Mexico, joined the Eden Alternative Registry on October 27, 2015. When you come into this beautiful Southern New Mexico home you will find 24 Elders thriving and enjoying the natural rhythm
Knocking on the Backdoor to the Soul
It’s 1995. My father, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, sits across from me in a restaurant in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He is quiet, staring at his hands in his lap. Most of the day, he’s seemed lost in his own world… one I can’t quite seem to reach. While we sit there, picking at our food, a Flamenco guitarist sets up in the corner of the room and begins to strum a few chords.
7 Points On How To Create And Sustain Change
Change can be very tricky to affect. So many road blocks exist in the world of of eldercare; from institutional norms, to policies and regulations, to the existing culture of a home, to simple human inertia (an object at rest tends to stay at rest).
Mallard Bay Joins The Registry
When visitors come to visit this vibrant home they often comment of how warm it feels when they walk through the doors. They notice the friendly faces of the care partner’s employees that greet them and the Elders that are happy and end engaged.
Welcome Bracken County Nursing Home To The Registry
Bracken County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, KY joined the Eden Alternative Registry on May 27, 2014. Located on 50 acres just 45 miles outside of greater Cincinnati in the rural community of Chatham, Kentucky, they are home to
Analog Aging in a Digital World
There was a time not too long ago when, if you stopped a stranger on the street to ask for the time, that person might reach into a pocket or purse, pull out a smart phone, and give you the answer. Unless he or she was wearing an old-fashioned wristwatch. In that case, it required only a glance at the wrist to come up with the answer.
Meaning And Purpose
The thing that continues to amaze me is that time and again I hear the refrain “I’m really not much of a writer.” I will hear this after just having read an amazing draft and it often reminds me of the Marianne Williamson quote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
Don’t Fall For the Chandelier Effect
Perhaps you saw the New York Times article this month In Race for Medicare Dollars, Nursing Homes May Lag. If you haven’t I would recommend taking the time to read it. The article touches on many distinct issues including how
Preaching to the Choir
Like many of you, I spend a good deal of time reading our Eden blogs along with the blogs on Changing Aging and other platforms. Generally I am inspired and sometimes find a point or two that strikes me in
Driving From Houston to Anchorage
Have you been more aware in your later years of the value of those deep and personal relationships with friends, family members, and fellow congregants? I find more and more value in these connections, in volunteering, in social activism than I have in the past. I desperately want others to share my journey, and I want to share theirs.
The Power Of Language
Changing the disrespectful and disempowering language often used to refer to people with dementia will help remove discrimination, stigma and isolation, writes Kate Swaffer.
Family Outreach And Education
How does your organization engage family members? So often our energy, enthusiasm, and focus are drawn towards creating caring partnerships between Elders and employees. I am not saying that the bulk of our efforts shouldn’t be devoted to that end, but what about the families? We know, however, that we need to build warm, compassionate teams that engage ALL care partners in the process of culture change.
Movement Is Life
Jerry Seinfeld, a man that most of us associate with humor, was recently quoted as saying “Movement is life”. That gave me pause because it might imply that those who are largely stationary; those whose movements have become smaller and
#DisruptAging Designing Tech For Elders
Human instinct is to look for a tech solution to most of our problems. Traveling to slow? Let’s build a car. Want to see pictures of cats? Let’s build the internet. Although, when it comes to aging technological innovation can
Hypothetical Tuesday
What if we were like trees in just one way, what if we showed our growth on the outside? What if with each passing year we grew taller and thicker? What if the oldest and wisest among us were the biggest and most majestic?