The Eden Alternative

Like plants – we need a little of what we need every day to stay healthy. Care Staff often feel that they do not have the time or resources to provide for residents emotional and spiritual needs.

But maybe that's part of the problem: care is not about quantified measures of chit-chat, counselling or hugs. Life is not a hospital ward with all of the days events carefully measured and administered in orderly form. Care Homes need a high level of organisation to run, in terms of shifts, meals and medication. But all else should be allowed to happen organically. Care Homes are small communities made up of young and elderly with the mutual aim of a positive environment in which to live and work.

The Eden Alternative, a not-for-profit organisation which originated in the US has a very strong social ethos when it comes to elderly Care. Their Life Assistants are employed on the basis that they wish to become part of a small community which promotes independence within the Care Home. An abundance of plants, pets and open plan living provides a warm and nurturing environment in which residents and staff can enjoy their day.  Staff who work in these homes typically maintain the ethos of the Care Home as they themselves are recipients of the benefits alongside residents.

Eden Alternative Care Homes which now span 4 continents, have shown a decrease in depression, injury through falling and a dramatic increase in staff retention. This means less money spent on drugs, treatment and recruitment. Making people happy and saving money? 

The luxury of having Care Staff with these values may be seem a lot to hope for, but a lot of it does come down to the management of the Care Home. If a Care Manager is able to recruit a few key staff with these ideals, and be shrewd in the recruitment process during the early stages, it is more likely that staff with these qualities will be picked out and employed in the long term. Creating a warm and positive environment for Care Staff will make it easier to maintain these values. It needn't be the ethos of a select few homes across the world.

Creating a paradigm shift within the Care Home environemtn may take considerable effort now, but the potential benefits our aging community are great.  And we all grow old some day.