What do you see? If you can see 2 different images, then you understand what an epiphany is. Epiphanies help us shift our perspective, see the world differently. And once you see that it can be different, there is no going back! That is what the Eden Approach offers, a chance to see the experience of aging and accepting support differently. When you can see it differently, it can be world changing!
It is easy, when visiting a congregate care setting, to see the place through the lens of services, layout, the quality of the furnishings, the color of the walls, etc. How might your perspective, and what you see, change if you looked through the lens of well-being? Kristi used a well-being perspective when visiting some Certified Members in Nova Scotia. This is what she learned.
We have all heard the stories of people that have needed intense medical support to deal with a trauma in their life. We’ve heard both the good and bad from that experience. However, if mindsets are shifted then care can be seen through a different lens. If care systems redesigned, people can genuinely receive the type of support they most need. These types of experiences can shift to stories of healing, comfort, and well-being.
Our need to recognized and celebrated as a whole human being does not change because we are living with dementia. When we know we are fully accepted for who we are, when our identity, meaning, and connectedness are strong, we thrive. Here is one story of the difference inclusivity made for one person’s life. What other stories does it bring to mind for you?
Great products and services make a real difference in people’s lives. When we have an innovative mindset we can create things that people are not even aware that they need. We can awaken people to new possibilities and really empower people to live life on their terms.
In our healthcare system, care plans are used to identify the support a person needs and the challenges they face. However, framing care needs through the lens of diagnosis or disease can generalize individual experiences, emphasizing a collective identity rather than personal circumstances. Traditionally, care plans have been linked to nursing, with many people viewing them as exclusively within the nurses’ scope of responsibility. The Eden Alternative redefines care as supporting someone’s growth, intentionally replacing the term “care plan” with “growth plan.” To create a truly meaningful growth plan, each Elder must be thoroughly understood and assessed for factors like loneliness, helplessness, boredom, and overall well-being.
According to the American Society on Aging, “Ageism Awareness Day is an opportunity to draw attention to the impact of ageism in our society and work together to build age-inclusive communities. How we view aging impacts where we as a society invest and how we make policy—and we need a shared, realistic view of aging to create solutions that serve us all.” The Eden Alternative teaches that ageism and ableism affect us all, lead to loneliness, helplessness, and boredom and diminish well-being. Celebrate Aging, Challenge Ageism today and every day!
Imagine attending an international conference with 500 experts from 63 countries all focused on creating societies where we all can age with choice, voice and dignity. This was a reality for Michelle Daniel, CEO of The Eden Alternative.
“When you hand good people possibility, they do great things.” (Biz Stone) When leaders are on the same wavelength, they work together more smoothly, communicate clearly, and drive the team toward shared goals. It helps avoid confusion and keeps everyone focused on what’s important. That’s the secret sauce to shifting the culture of care!
Ever notice how when someone accepts support services into their home, it is like an invasion has occurred. Not due to ill intent, but due to the influx of the institutional model of care. The sense of home may disappear. Yet, it can be different!
The system and the language that we have inherited seem to be in opposition of what we hold in our hearts. With our language we create a world for the people that we partner in support with to experience and we have the power to make it a world worth living in.
The system and the language that we have inherited seem to be in opposition of what we hold in our hearts. With our language we create a world for the people that we partner in support with to experience and we have the power to make it a world worth living in.
If you have experienced a place or a group where everybody knows your name, then you know how supportive it feels. The importance of being well-known.
Fostering and modeling authenticity is critical to effective leadership.
The research about meaning (and the impact on health) is out there. Explore ways to enhance meaning in your life as well as the lives of others!
Learn new strategies, rethink traditional approaches, and improve the lives of both care partners and those living with dementia.
Transformation requires a change of mindset and habits, both of which require ongoing practice!
Effective leadership involves much more than just directing a team or making strategic decisions. It’s about understanding people, navigating challenges, fostering collaboration, and creating environments where teams can thrive.
It’s vital to staying engaged, growing, and adapting. That’s why we created “Shaping the Future of Aging,” a podcast designed to reflect the power of a growth mindset.
By centering mutual understanding – both in leadership and in life – we create the conditions for people to connect bravely, collaborate respectfully, and live authentically.
Explore building identity, connectedness, security, autonomy, meaning, growth and joy into care partnerships with teams of peers in a group learning environment.
Dementia care has often been approached from a clinical, task-oriented perspective, but there is a growing recognition that truly compassionate care requires something deeper: a focus on the person, their experiences, and their inherent potential for connection and meaning.
In long-term care, create a place where people truly thrive—where they feel seen, valued, and connected.
Seeing the why can bring life-affirming energy to things we once dreaded; conversely, it can reveal that some things we’ve been prioritizing don’t actually align with our values. Using this tool clarifies what we want to embrace and where we want to set boundaries.
There are ways to interact with each other that can decrease the distress experienced by everyone involved.
You must shift how you view your role in the relationship and how you define what you see happening for the person living with dementia, including how they interact with the world around them.
Dementia Action Alliance joins The Eden Alternative as an outreach mission! Together we are furthering the mission of serving individuals and care partners of individuals living with dementia and MCI.
At the heart of Dr. Power’s approach is the recognition that a diagnosis of dementia does not eliminate a person’s humanity, their right to have influence over their own life, or their need for well-being.
Why do some people have lasting problems because of these different incidents? What helps some people be more resilient, and others more vulnerable, to the impact of trauma?
And finally, what can be done to heal from trauma?
The Eden Approach® to person-directed care infuses meaning into every corner, every act and every relationship. This way, all care partners share in a life worth living.
If you truly want to change culture, you need to change communication. Break old cycles of conflict, division, blame, and shame.
The Eden Alternative Board of Directors welcomes the expertise of the Co-founder of Eversound.
Discover components of building a thriving behavioral health community. Remember, we are all behavioral and it takes a community to heal.
What to expect when working with our team! The ins-and-outs of getting started.
The Eden Alternative welcomes the experience and expertise of 4 new Board members!
The Eden Alternative team continues to grow, adding three new team members in the past two months. Learn about them here!
By Michelle Daniel, President & CEO “Ms. Daniel, we do not have any water. There is absolutely no water coming into this building.” This urgent call arrived in the early hours of the morning. On the other end of the phone line was a nurse from a community where, as Administrator, I was responsible for…
By Michelle DanielPresident & CEO, The Eden Alternative “The new hire quit. She seemed like such a great candidate. She interviewed so well, and we all liked her. What happened?” Does this sound familiar in your work environment? There are regularly open positions waiting on the “new hire” and onboarding/orientation is rushed or abbreviated –…
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