b'RESIDENT-CENTRED CAREOsgoode Care Centres journeyResident-centred and holistic care with the Eden AlternativeO sgoode Care Centre is onA lot of the Eden Alternative isinclude eliminating uniforms to help a journey to implementabout recognizing that residentscreate a more social environment, the Eden Alternative as itshave personal histories that are richimplementing more spontaneous approach to resident-directed care.with information, whether that getsprogramming, and arranging The journey began when Lori Norris- communicated verbally or non- for unique resident experiences. Dudley, President and Chief Executiveverbally, Norris says. It emphasizesOne thing we like about the Eden Officer, joined her team in exploringthe fact that just because individualsAlternative is that it encourages a various approaches to a cultureare living with dementia and are inmore holistic approach, as well as change that would best align withlong-term care, that doesnt meanconnecting residents with nature and Osgoodes values of caring for thosethey are lost or have nothing tothe outside environment, Norris says.living with dementia. give. Its our job to figure out what is meaningful to them and apply it toOverall, the idea behind the Eden We connected most with Edenhow we provide care. Alternative is to help care teams because of its approach to alleviatingshift from a medical model of care the boredom, loneliness andThe Eden Alternative methodology isto a more social and resident-led helplessness that can develop amongdelivered through workshops, onlinemodel. This can be a challenging residents who come to a long-termeducation, conferences and retreatstransformation, says Norris, but the care home and struggle to find acovering a broad range of topics frombenefits speak for themselves: When purpose or meaning," Norris explains.leadership styles to communicationyou walk into a home that has Eden Eden emphasizes a move away fromtechniques, ways to learn residentsfully enveloped into their philosophy, a medical model to a social model stories, and many more.its very calming, residents are more of care. engaged, and there are more spur-of-There is no "one-size-fits-all" approachthe-moment activities that come from The Eden Model was created by to embedding the Eden model.the residents themselves.Dr. Bill Thomas, a geriatric medicineRather, it provides organizations and eldercare specialist, alongside hislike Osgoode with the training,On the pathway to Eden partner, Jude Thomas. The approachinsights, consultations and resourcesCulture change does not happen provides long-term care teamsto apply its resident-directed careovernight. For Osgoode, adopting with the education, inspiration andprinciples in a way that works bestthe Eden Alternative has been an supports to embrace 10 Eden carewith their homes. For example, someinteractive process of getting team principles (see sidebar).of the things Osgoode has donemembers trained and applying their Visiting with Jasper, the home\'s mascot Enjoying some horse therapy22 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2024'