I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine’s Day! Here at the Manor we definitely did! We hosted a Valentine’s Tea with our residents, their families and staff. We enjoyed sweet treats from sugar cookies to cheesecakes, and a party wouldn’t be complete without live entertainment! As Prince would say, we partied like it was 1999.
So enough about valentines and parties, I’d like to talk about our home. Did you know that St. Joseph Manor is one of only 4 Eden Alternative homes in our great Commonwealth? No. Well we are. But first, I should probably explain the Eden Alternative. The core concept of The Eden Alternative is strikingly simple: where elders live must be habitats for human beings, not sterile medical institutions. The Eden Alternative is dedicated to eliminating the plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom that make life intolerable in most of today’s long-term care facilities.
Here at St. Joseph Manor we work at this culture change everyday with our Consistent Caregiver Program to our Gentle Awakenings (residents wake up when they want, instead of on a schedule) and our Dining At Home program (where residents enjoy an individualized morning routine by having the ability to wake when they want and then have the breakfast of their choice).
The 10 Principles of the Eden Alternative are:
- The three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom account for the bulk of suffering among our Elders.
- An Elder-centered community commits to creating a Human Habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with plants, animals and children. It is these relationships that provide the young and old alike with a pathway to a life worth living.
- Loving companionship is the antidote to loneliness. Elders deserve easy access to human and animal companionship.
- An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness.
- An Elder-centered community imbues daily life with variety and spontaneity by creating an environment in which unexpected and unpredictable interactions and happenings can take place. This is the antidote to boredom.
- Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health.
- Medical treatment should be the servant of genuine human caring, never its master.
- An Elder-centered community honors its Elders by de-emphasizing top-down bureaucratic authority, seeking instead to place the maximum possible decision-making authority into the hands of the Elders or into the hands of those closest to them.
- Creating an Elder-centered community is a never-ending process. Human growth must never be separated from human life.
- Wise leadership is the lifeblood of any struggle against the three plagues. For it, there can be no substitute.
From March 22nd-24th, 2011, Manor associates from Nurses to Social Workers, Therapists to C.N.A.’s are encouraged to attend the 3 days of inspirational training. During this training, Manor associates will be touched and transformed by the energy and passion of the Eden trainers. Throughout the training, the principles and practices of the Eden Alternative will be revealed and explored.
As we work towards this very important culture change by providing live entertainment, pet therapy, cultivating our own organic garden, day trips and so much more we hope you will think of us when you or your loved one need either short or long term care. We will work towards making you and yours feel welcomed, well-known and where life is worth living.
If you'd like to learn more about the Eden Alternative, you can visit their webiste by clicking here!
Until next time,
Miss Manor
