Contributed by Uplands resident Mary Schantz
When Lisa Norris, R.N., a certified Eden Alternative Educator and manager of Home Health Services at Uplands Village, is asked about the Eden Philosophy of Elder Care, her eyes light up. “We’ve been on the Eden journey since 2008, and became the first Eden-registered continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Tennessee. The Eden Alternative requires a real cultural shift in our thinking about the process of aging and what we, as care partners, can do to make it a more positive experience for everyone. Our residents, especially those living independently in their own homes on the Uplands campus, were among the biggest proponents of this change.”
The Eden journey coincided with plans to replace the original Wharton Nursing Home. Instead of the long, depressing institutional hallways typically associated with nursing facilities, Uplands used the Eden Alternative Household Model to design four small houses, accommodating just 15 or 16 residents. Each household has an open floor plan that encourages elders to participate fully in everyday life. All resident rooms open onto a central living-dining-family room complete with kitchen, fireplace, skylights and windows overlooking the courtyard gardens – an inviting space that makes residents, staff, visitors and volunteers feel at home.
That was just the start. The Eden Alternative is a revolutionary, elder-centered approach that de-institutionalizes the whole process of aging and places day-to-day decision making with those most affected by it – the elders themselves (or those closest to them) and their care partners. It’s based on the pioneering work of Bill Thomas, MD, who identified loneliness, helplessness and boredom as the three real plagues of aging. The Eden Alternative provides care partners with the culture-changing tools necessary to alter this experience.
“It’s a profound change in how we interact with residents. Care “givers” learn how to become care “partners,” sharing equally in the daily decision-making process with those we care for. It’s about relationship building, about learning the individual preferences and life stories of every resident so we can give the most personalized care possible, not just in Wharton Homes, but in Fletcher House for Assisted Living and in the Uplands independent-living community.”
Everyone on the Uplands staff receives training in this elder-centered approach to care. On an ongoing basis, Learning Circles, which may be called by anyone, provide a safe space where care partners and residents can address problems, offer solutions and learn from one another.
In December, Uplands hosted a 3-day Certified Eden Associate Training program, attended by Uplands staff, several residents and even some individuals from out of state interested in learning more about how to apply the Eden approach in their own communities. Uplands also introduced Eden at Home training. Residents in the ten independent-living neighborhoods learned ways they can apply the Eden concept to provide greater support and understanding for their neighbors.
“The Eden Alternative is a never-ending process of improvement and growth for everyone involved – residents, their families, care partners and volunteers,” Lisa says. “It’s a journey, but one that’s been worth it every step of the way.”
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