I recently read a study that found that only 13% of nursing homes in the US had comprehensively adopted culture change. I was beside myself. “Thirteen percent?!” I said, “Are you kidding me? How can that be possible?” Full disclosure:
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
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,
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
Signature Healthcare of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina joined the Eden Registry on August 2, 2018. Signature Healthcare of Roanoke Rapids, nestled in a residential neighborhood welcomes visitors with beautiful landscaping and pots overflowing with flowers. Elders often sit outside, watching
The Eden Alternative® has been around for over 20 years now. The resources and the approach have grown and transformed over time. Integrating the Principles makes a big difference in the lives of Elder, family, and employee care partners. Dr.
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,
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.
This powerful blog written by Anne Basting, PhD, originally posted in ChangingAging.org earlier this year. As our keynote speaker for the welcoming session of the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference, Basting will challenge and inspire conference participants to rethink how
Signature Healthcare at Colonial in Bardstown, Kentucky joined the Eden Registry on June 29, 2017. Located in the historic and beautiful town of Bardstown, there are 55 Elders who call this amazing place home. Bardstown is so quaint that according
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
Signature Healthcare of Spencer County in Taylorsville, KY joined the Eden Registry on March 17, 2017. Located about 20 minutes from Louisville they are nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains and hills. The towns of Louisville and Taylorsville
Mission at Community Rehab and Assisted Living in Centerfield, Utah joined the Eden Registry on February 20, 2017. This home is located in the quaint little country town of Centerfiled, Utah, a town that is rich in history and community.
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
This article of mine was published in PS Magazine, Issue 15 on Page 16. It’s based on a personal story that affirms, without a doubt, that home is where the heart is. Jackie loves the arts… opera in particular. At
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
Life coach Martha Beck’s book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, captures the key qualities of what she calls a “Wayfinder.” (No, Martha is not my kin, by the way.) Wayfinders, by her definition, look a lot like culture
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
Signature Healthcare of Greeneville in Greeneville, TN joined the Eden Registry on August 11, 2016. Care Partner employees here believe that no one should suffer from the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom. They work hard each day to
The Bridge at Rockwood in Rockwood , TN, joined the Eden Registry on July 29, 2016. This home is centrally located in the heart of Tennessee in the beautiful Roane County. When you pull up for a visit you are
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
You’ve all heard people say that a “little turnover is expected as leaders change.” I’ve heard it too. The other thing I’ve heard is “turnover is a good thing during a transition. It is a chance to get the right
Signature Healthcare of Putnam County joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 12, 2016. Tucked away in the little town of Algood, TN, they are home to 150 empowered Elders. The folks who live and work here have gone to
As I hang a new calendar on the wall, I am reminded of what an amazing and fulfilling year 2015 was. I was able to travel to 33 cities in 18 states, and another 13 cities in 7 other countries,
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
Last summer, we had the pleasure of working with 20 nursing homes from California and Colorado for a grant project of ours. One of the grant activities involved connecting project participants with culture change leaders who had an exceptional track
Person-directed care is important in any caring environment. But McKnight’s has a new article about the importance of developing and delivering “Family Centered Care.” Most of the time the Elder may be your focus of attention but in many cases to deliver the best care we need to show the family a little love.
‘It’s About Time!’ can be interpreted in different ways: first, picture someone standing with their arms folded across their chest. It may be an authority figure, admonishing someone who is late….’It’s About Time!’ It could be the world admonishing us for taking so long to change the culture of eldercare.
Street smarts, book smarts, knowledge, intelligence, there are a lot of ways we classify being “smart.” A recent article on the subject by Dr. Travis Bradberry got us thinking about the relationship between emotional intelligence and caregiving.
Some of you may know by this point that I love to share TED talks from time to time and today I’m sharing another one to kick off the week. Anyone who knows The Eden Alternative is most likely acquainted with
Life is full of choices, and making choices can be really hard at times. For me, going to Cheesecake Factory to eat is always a challenge….so many great choices on the menu! But in the big scheme of things, choosing a menu item doesn’t mean a lot and really only affects me.
Recently the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias published a study showing the effects of mindfulness on care partnerships. CBS News wrote up the findings in an interesting article. Alzheimer’s disease takes a psychological and physical toll not only on
A friend of mine just shared a very cool article published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing about a recent study of person-centered care. I’ve read a lot of studies about person-centered care, but what really caught my eye here
When is it right for an Elder to go to the Hospital? In a person-directed care organization, deciding if an Elder should go to the hospital is driven by the individual’s life goals and preferences first, and treatment second. Eden
The Beverly Centre Glenmore Calgary, AB, Canada joined the Eden Registry on May 23, 2013. The Beverly is home to 215 Elders and they also provide meaningful experiences to 40 Elders that attend the Adult Day Program. Beautifully decorated it
Our newest addition, Signature HealthCARE at The Courtyard, joined the Eden Registry on May 21, 2012. Nestled away in the lush trees of Marianna, Florida, 120 Elders call The Courtyard their home. Elders here enjoy the picturesque grounds that are
Washington Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Chipley, FL joined The Eden Registry on May 13, 2013. Located in a small rural town in the Florida panhandle, they are home to approximately 155 Elders. Person-directed care coupled with meaningful relationships is the
An article published in today’s issue of McKnight’s cites the slow progress in nursing homes achieving reductions in the use of antipsychotics as sought by CMS. In stark contrast to this report, I had the privilege to hear about a
Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatoon, Canada truly values the larger community in ways that bring meaning and joy to all that become involved. Read below what Patricia Roe, Leader, Communications and Public Relations has to say about their community outreach.
Kingston Nursing Center in Conway, South Carolina is having a great time honoring National Scrabble Day. The team thought it would be fun to honor National Scrabble Day and the hot new game “Words with Friends” together. The Administrative Secretary
Principle Two of The Eden Alternative tells us that the creation of a Human Habitat is the most effective cure for the plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. By definition, a Human Habitat is “an environment where different species live
Being an empowering facilitative leader is the single most important aspect of the culture change journey. For person-directed care to become a reality, facilitative leaders must create an environment flexible enough that teams can make decisions on the spot and
Spring is on the way! Now is the time to start dusting off the garden tools. Jack Carman of Design for Generations reminds us that gardening can play a powerful part in care plan development. An Eden Alternative value-added partner,
Twenty individuals became Neighborhood Guides at the end of a five-day training experience in Rochester, New York this past week. Sixteen attendees were from Kirkhaven Transitional & Long-Term Care in Rochester and four were from Schlegel Villages in Ontario, Canada.
Goal #2: Increase Person-Centered Care Planning and Decision-Making Description & rationale: Person-centered care means that each resident of a nursing home has a choice about his or her daily routine, activities and healthcare. Staff places value on listening, learning, and
Successful culture change calls on leaders to create an organizational culture that actively engages everyone in change initiatives. Leaders who just pay lip service to creating a participatory ethos find out very quickly that they are building their culture change
Goal #1: Improve Staff stability Description & rationale: A stable workforce is fundamental to providing the highest quality care and life in nursing homes and sustaining performance improvement. Working on this goal will provide nursing home staff with resources and
For many years companies have pursued great customer service as a competitive strategy. Think the Disney model. Organizations in the health care arena, especially long term care providers, have more recently taken up the same charge. Think “If Disney Ran
Someone asked me recently what was so special about being a facilitative leader. There are so many ways to answer this question, but let’s zero in on why facilitative leadership is particularly significant to person-directed care across all care settings.
The Eden Alternative is continuing its collaboration with the Tennessee Advancing Excellence Coalition, the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Health Care Facilities, and CMS by offering another three-day dementia training event in Knoxville, Tennessee, this week from 1/15-1/17. This
These hospitals are being penalized based on their 30-day readmission rates and so far the fines have added up to about $280 million. This is just the tip of the iceberg. It is time for Eldercare organizations across the care
As a society, we love our programs. Move around in any professional sub-culture and you will hear the word “program” thrown about repeatedly. We love methodically following their pre-determined steps and adding them to a list of other programs that
The Eden Alternative will participate in a poster session featuring the development of the Well-Being Assessment Tools at the Gerontological Society of America’s 65th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, CA. Frances Wilby, LCSW, PhD, a member of the team that
Recently, I returned home to find a bar of dark chocolate with a ribbon around it at my doorstep. There was no card or acknowledgement – just a little bar of delight waiting there for me. I waited a few
A recent article in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News entitled “Ready, Set: QAPI!” got me thinking about what long-term care communities are going to need to feel prepared to deal with upcoming regulations coming out of the new Quality Assurance and
On September 26, 2012, culture change advocates from around the world gathered in Reykjavik, Iceland to listen to presentations about The Eden Alternative. They shared the challenges they face in bringing culture change to long-term care settings and amazing success
On Friday September 28th, over 200 culture change advocates convened in San Marcos, Texas, for the 2nd annual Texas Culture Change Coalition Symposium. It is was a day full of presentations and demonstrations from various culture change experts, including former
Two new organizations are stepping up to ensure that their neighborhood teams are successful. Care partners from St. John’s Home in Rochester, NY (Joanne Panarisi-Bottone, Kristine Angevine, and Karen Natoli) and Epworth Village in Oklahoma City, OK (Linda Crawford) attended
As of this month, our global reach at The Eden Alternative has officially extended to 6 out of 7 continents! On September 4th, Dr. Bill Thomas added South America to the list when he landed in Bogotá, Colombia as keynote
At last week’s Green House Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., I had the opportunity to introduce Green House adopters to Embracing Elderhood, an Eden Alternative initiative that brings volunteers, age 16 and older, together with Elders through the power
Following are excerpts from an article with the same title as this post written by Kathleen Lourde that appears in the September issue of Provider Magazine, both the print and on-line versions. G. Allen Power, MD, author of “Dementia Beyond
Imagine a memory care home that never mentions words like “confusion, memory loss, or dementia” when you are talking with them. These words often come up in conversation with teams that care for those living with dementia. Introducing, Chateau Gardens
The Eden Alternative joined over a 1,000 culture change enthusiasts in Jacksonville, Florida, last weekend to kick off the Pioneer Network’s 12th National Conference, Building a Bridge to a New Culture in Aging. On Sunday, the 5th of August, our
Move Mountains… Change Lives.
I recently read a study that found that only 13% of nursing homes in the US had comprehensively adopted culture change. I was beside myself. “Thirteen percent?!” I said, “Are you kidding me? How can that be possible?” Full disclosure:
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
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,
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
Welcome Signature Healthcare of Roanoke Rapids
Signature Healthcare of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina joined the Eden Registry on August 2, 2018. Signature Healthcare of Roanoke Rapids, nestled in a residential neighborhood welcomes visitors with beautiful landscaping and pots overflowing with flowers. Elders often sit outside, watching
Busting Myth #1 About The Eden Alternative: Drinking the Kool-Aid
The Eden Alternative® has been around for over 20 years now. The resources and the approach have grown and transformed over time. Integrating the Principles makes a big difference in the lives of Elder, family, and employee care partners. Dr.
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,
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.
Stealing Hope
This powerful blog written by Anne Basting, PhD, originally posted in ChangingAging.org earlier this year. As our keynote speaker for the welcoming session of the 2018 Eden Alternative International Conference, Basting will challenge and inspire conference participants to rethink how
Welcome Signature Healthcare at Colonial to the Eden Registry
Signature Healthcare at Colonial in Bardstown, Kentucky joined the Eden Registry on June 29, 2017. Located in the historic and beautiful town of Bardstown, there are 55 Elders who call this amazing place home. Bardstown is so quaint that according
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
Meet Our Newest Registry Member – Signature Healthcare of Spencer County
Signature Healthcare of Spencer County in Taylorsville, KY joined the Eden Registry on March 17, 2017. Located about 20 minutes from Louisville they are nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains and hills. The towns of Louisville and Taylorsville
Mission at Community Rehab and Assisted Living Joins the Eden Registry
Mission at Community Rehab and Assisted Living in Centerfield, Utah joined the Eden Registry on February 20, 2017. This home is located in the quaint little country town of Centerfiled, Utah, a town that is rich in history and community.
“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
Home is Where Well-Being Is
This article of mine was published in PS Magazine, Issue 15 on Page 16. It’s based on a personal story that affirms, without a doubt, that home is where the heart is. Jackie loves the arts… opera in particular. At
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
Change Agents as Wayfinders
Life coach Martha Beck’s book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, captures the key qualities of what she calls a “Wayfinder.” (No, Martha is not my kin, by the way.) Wayfinders, by her definition, look a lot like culture
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
Welcome Our Newest Registry Member: Signature Healthcare of Greeneville
Signature Healthcare of Greeneville in Greeneville, TN joined the Eden Registry on August 11, 2016. Care Partner employees here believe that no one should suffer from the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom. They work hard each day to
The Bridge at Rockwood Joins the Eden Registry
The Bridge at Rockwood in Rockwood , TN, joined the Eden Registry on July 29, 2016. This home is centrally located in the heart of Tennessee in the beautiful Roane County. When you pull up for a visit you are
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
The Leadership Transition Myth
You’ve all heard people say that a “little turnover is expected as leaders change.” I’ve heard it too. The other thing I’ve heard is “turnover is a good thing during a transition. It is a chance to get the right
Signature Healthcare of Putnam County: Off to a Great Start!
Signature Healthcare of Putnam County joined the Eden Alternative Registry on January 12, 2016. Tucked away in the little town of Algood, TN, they are home to 150 empowered Elders. The folks who live and work here have gone to
Looking Back, Looking Forward
As I hang a new calendar on the wall, I am reminded of what an amazing and fulfilling year 2015 was. I was able to travel to 33 cities in 18 states, and another 13 cities in 7 other countries,
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
Coach Each Other, Grow Together, Change Lives
Last summer, we had the pleasure of working with 20 nursing homes from California and Colorado for a grant project of ours. One of the grant activities involved connecting project participants with culture change leaders who had an exceptional track
McKnight’s Shares 7 Powerful Ways to Deliver Family Centered Care
Person-directed care is important in any caring environment. But McKnight’s has a new article about the importance of developing and delivering “Family Centered Care.” Most of the time the Elder may be your focus of attention but in many cases to deliver the best care we need to show the family a little love.
Culture Change… Why NOW?
‘It’s About Time!’ can be interpreted in different ways: first, picture someone standing with their arms folded across their chest. It may be an authority figure, admonishing someone who is late….’It’s About Time!’ It could be the world admonishing us for taking so long to change the culture of eldercare.
The Role of Emotional Intelligence In Caregiving
Street smarts, book smarts, knowledge, intelligence, there are a lot of ways we classify being “smart.” A recent article on the subject by Dr. Travis Bradberry got us thinking about the relationship between emotional intelligence and caregiving.
Why?
Some of you may know by this point that I love to share TED talks from time to time and today I’m sharing another one to kick off the week. Anyone who knows The Eden Alternative is most likely acquainted with
The Choices We Make
Life is full of choices, and making choices can be really hard at times. For me, going to Cheesecake Factory to eat is always a challenge….so many great choices on the menu! But in the big scheme of things, choosing a menu item doesn’t mean a lot and really only affects me.
Mindfulness and Person Directed Care
Recently the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias published a study showing the effects of mindfulness on care partnerships. CBS News wrote up the findings in an interesting article. Alzheimer’s disease takes a psychological and physical toll not only on
It’s not a Program. It’s a Philosophy!
A friend of mine just shared a very cool article published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing about a recent study of person-centered care. I’ve read a lot of studies about person-centered care, but what really caught my eye here
Effective Decision-Making in Moments of Crisis Requires Support
When is it right for an Elder to go to the Hospital? In a person-directed care organization, deciding if an Elder should go to the hospital is driven by the individual’s life goals and preferences first, and treatment second. Eden
The Beverly Centre Glenmore joins the Eden Registry
The Beverly Centre Glenmore Calgary, AB, Canada joined the Eden Registry on May 23, 2013. The Beverly is home to 215 Elders and they also provide meaningful experiences to 40 Elders that attend the Adult Day Program. Beautifully decorated it
Another Signature HealthCARE Home Joins the Tribe
Our newest addition, Signature HealthCARE at The Courtyard, joined the Eden Registry on May 21, 2012. Nestled away in the lush trees of Marianna, Florida, 120 Elders call The Courtyard their home. Elders here enjoy the picturesque grounds that are
Welcome to the Tribe
Washington Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Chipley, FL joined The Eden Registry on May 13, 2013. Located in a small rural town in the Florida panhandle, they are home to approximately 155 Elders. Person-directed care coupled with meaningful relationships is the
Reducing Antipsychotics is Hard Work, but Worth the Effort
An article published in today’s issue of McKnight’s cites the slow progress in nursing homes achieving reductions in the use of antipsychotics as sought by CMS. In stark contrast to this report, I had the privilege to hear about a
Sherbrook Community Centre: Using Community Involvement to Reframe Aging
Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatoon, Canada truly values the larger community in ways that bring meaning and joy to all that become involved. Read below what Patricia Roe, Leader, Communications and Public Relations has to say about their community outreach.
Words With Elders
Kingston Nursing Center in Conway, South Carolina is having a great time honoring National Scrabble Day. The team thought it would be fun to honor National Scrabble Day and the hot new game “Words with Friends” together. The Administrative Secretary
Facilitating Diversity Drives Change
Principle Two of The Eden Alternative tells us that the creation of a Human Habitat is the most effective cure for the plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. By definition, a Human Habitat is “an environment where different species live
Facilitating Empowerment is a Full Continuum Experience
Being an empowering facilitative leader is the single most important aspect of the culture change journey. For person-directed care to become a reality, facilitative leaders must create an environment flexible enough that teams can make decisions on the spot and
Gardens Support Care
Spring is on the way! Now is the time to start dusting off the garden tools. Jack Carman of Design for Generations reminds us that gardening can play a powerful part in care plan development. An Eden Alternative value-added partner,
Twenty Neighborhood Guides Have Their Roadmap to the Future
Twenty individuals became Neighborhood Guides at the end of a five-day training experience in Rochester, New York this past week. Sixteen attendees were from Kirkhaven Transitional & Long-Term Care in Rochester and four were from Schlegel Villages in Ontario, Canada.
Meeting Advancing Excellence Goals with The Eden Alternative®
Goal #2: Increase Person-Centered Care Planning and Decision-Making Description & rationale: Person-centered care means that each resident of a nursing home has a choice about his or her daily routine, activities and healthcare. Staff places value on listening, learning, and
Strong Communication Skills: Step One to Building a Participatory Culture
Successful culture change calls on leaders to create an organizational culture that actively engages everyone in change initiatives. Leaders who just pay lip service to creating a participatory ethos find out very quickly that they are building their culture change
Meeting Advancing Excellence Goals with The Eden Alternative®
Goal #1: Improve Staff stability Description & rationale: A stable workforce is fundamental to providing the highest quality care and life in nursing homes and sustaining performance improvement. Working on this goal will provide nursing home staff with resources and
Care is More than Customer Service
For many years companies have pursued great customer service as a competitive strategy. Think the Disney model. Organizations in the health care arena, especially long term care providers, have more recently taken up the same charge. Think “If Disney Ran
The Key to Sustainable Change is Facilitative Leadership
Someone asked me recently what was so special about being a facilitative leader. There are so many ways to answer this question, but let’s zero in on why facilitative leadership is particularly significant to person-directed care across all care settings.
Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing Perspectives and Changing Lives in Tennessee
The Eden Alternative is continuing its collaboration with the Tennessee Advancing Excellence Coalition, the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Health Care Facilities, and CMS by offering another three-day dementia training event in Knoxville, Tennessee, this week from 1/15-1/17. This
2217 Hospitals Penalized Since October 2012
These hospitals are being penalized based on their 30-day readmission rates and so far the fines have added up to about $280 million. This is just the tip of the iceberg. It is time for Eldercare organizations across the care
It's a Process, Not a Program
As a society, we love our programs. Move around in any professional sub-culture and you will hear the word “program” thrown about repeatedly. We love methodically following their pre-determined steps and adding them to a list of other programs that
Eden Alternative Domains of Well-Being Featured at GSA Conference
The Eden Alternative will participate in a poster session featuring the development of the Well-Being Assessment Tools at the Gerontological Society of America’s 65th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, CA. Frances Wilby, LCSW, PhD, a member of the team that
On Gratitude and Giving Thanks: The Power of the Mitzvah
Recently, I returned home to find a bar of dark chocolate with a ribbon around it at my doorstep. There was no card or acknowledgement – just a little bar of delight waiting there for me. I waited a few
QAPI and The Eden Alternative®: What Are the Connections?
A recent article in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News entitled “Ready, Set: QAPI!” got me thinking about what long-term care communities are going to need to feel prepared to deal with upcoming regulations coming out of the new Quality Assurance and
International Change Agents Gather in Iceland
On September 26, 2012, culture change advocates from around the world gathered in Reykjavik, Iceland to listen to presentations about The Eden Alternative. They shared the challenges they face in bringing culture change to long-term care settings and amazing success
Texas Comes Together for Change
On Friday September 28th, over 200 culture change advocates convened in San Marcos, Texas, for the 2nd annual Texas Culture Change Coalition Symposium. It is was a day full of presentations and demonstrations from various culture change experts, including former
New Eden Alternative Neighborhood Guides Come Out of Sewickley, PA Training
Two new organizations are stepping up to ensure that their neighborhood teams are successful. Care partners from St. John’s Home in Rochester, NY (Joanne Panarisi-Bottone, Kristine Angevine, and Karen Natoli) and Epworth Village in Oklahoma City, OK (Linda Crawford) attended
The Eden Alternative Reaches China and Colombia
As of this month, our global reach at The Eden Alternative has officially extended to 6 out of 7 continents! On September 4th, Dr. Bill Thomas added South America to the list when he landed in Bogotá, Colombia as keynote
Embracing Elderhood Changes Lives Across Generations
At last week’s Green House Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., I had the opportunity to introduce Green House adopters to Embracing Elderhood, an Eden Alternative initiative that brings volunteers, age 16 and older, together with Elders through the power
Bridging the Gap in Dementia Care
Following are excerpts from an article with the same title as this post written by Kathleen Lourde that appears in the September issue of Provider Magazine, both the print and on-line versions. G. Allen Power, MD, author of “Dementia Beyond
A Memory Care Home That is Making Memories Daily
Imagine a memory care home that never mentions words like “confusion, memory loss, or dementia” when you are talking with them. These words often come up in conversation with teams that care for those living with dementia. Introducing, Chateau Gardens
The Eden Alternative Hits the Pioneer Network Conference
The Eden Alternative joined over a 1,000 culture change enthusiasts in Jacksonville, Florida, last weekend to kick off the Pioneer Network’s 12th National Conference, Building a Bridge to a New Culture in Aging. On Sunday, the 5th of August, our