By Michelle Daniel
CEO, The Eden Alternative, Inc.
Exploring Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations
I had an incredible week in Poland learning more about one of The Eden Alternative’s Value-Added Partners, TZMO Seni. It is so important to partner person-directed living with great products and services. Seni provides products that help restore dignity, confidence, and proper rest to people’s lives. That’s something we can all celebrate. I am deeply thankful for this partnership.
The highlight of my visit was attending the 27th International Long-Term Care Conference. It was held September 23–25, 2025, at the CKK Jordanki Art and Congress Centre in Toruń, Poland. The event was organized by the TZMO Foundation and TZMO Group. There were more than 1,000 specialists and directors of long-term care communities from over 30 countries in attendance. Together, we explored the challenges and opportunities facing long-term care in a changing world. There were rich sessions on dementia care, technological innovations, and effective care models.
Seeing HIstory and The Future
In the beautiful, nearly 800-year-old town of Toruń, there is deep pride in history, food, culture, and hospitality. The city is famous for its gingerbread cookies, crafted from recipes passed down through the centuries. Toruń also holds a clear vision for the future.
I visited Toruń’s only nursing home. It is a “classic” eldercare building from the 1960s that felt familiar to many communities in the U.S. Yet there were some notable differences. The building was filled with natural light. The environment was noticeably quiet. Gone were the usual institutional noises like clattering casters or idle chatter in the halls. Quiet was intentional, designed to support rest and healing. As I visited the elders, they showed me art they had made from paintings to crochet.
What stood out most was the sense of love, compassion, and contentment among the elders I met, who were truly happy.
In contrast, I also toured a hospital created by TZMO Seni. The hospital is state-of-the-art, designed with forward-thinking approaches and remarkable intention for health, healing and well-being. The juxtaposition underscored both the challenges we face, and the opportunities we must embrace, to reimagine eldercare worldwide.
Rooted in Core Values
What became clear throughout my time with the TZMO Seni team is how deeply their work is rooted in their core values:
- Innovation – Meeting people’s needs with products based on state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality standards, available globally.
- Responsibility – Balancing business success with community involvement, supporting educational projects that promote health, empathy, and social support for people who need it most.
- Experience – Blending the knowledge of long-term employees with the creativity of younger staff to provide solutions that truly serve people with dignity and respect.
I left Poland inspired by the deep respect for history and energized by the innovation I witnessed. I felt hopeful about what is possible when person-directed living is paired with the right products, services, and partnerships. Together, we can create communities where dignity, confidence, and joy are at the center of care.
If you work with a company who is a potential Value-Added Partner, please click here.
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About The Eden Alternative
Our Mission: To improve the well-being of Elders and their care partners by transforming the communities in which they live and work.
The Eden Alternative offers educational opportunities, consultation and a proven approach to honoring Elderhood – with resources for Elders and their care partners to elevate well-being.
