THORNAPPLE MANOR CELEBRATES ITS EDEN ALTERNATIVE REGISTRY
In recognition of Thornapple Manor’s commitment to create a “Human Habitat” in which residents can enjoy variety and spontaneity in their daily lives, the Eden Alternative organization has honored Thornapple Manor by recognizing Thornapple Manor on the Eden Alternative Registry, a listing that includes only 270 other homes throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Thornapple Manor is striving to create communities that eliminate the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom within the long-term-care setting, and give back autonomy to residents in their daily lives.

“We are proud to be an Eden Alternative Registered Home, and recognize that the Eden Alternative is a journey and not a destination”, stated Jim DeYoung, Administrator. “True community is found in the struggle to build lasting, meaningful relationships. That is a never-ending process.”

The Eden Alternative is a powerful tool for improving the quality of life for residents in long-term-care settings, and for recapturing a meaningful working life for their caregivers.

The Eden Alternative is a culture change initiative dedicated to supporting facilities, such as Thornapple Manor, in the creation of communities that eliminate what the Eden Alternative calls “the plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom”. These are plagues of the human spirit, not the human body, but they can be just as debilitating. Our residents need, and deserve, an opportunity for a life worth living, not just to spend time wiling away the hours.

Founded in 1991 by Dr. William Thomas, a Harvard-educated physician and Board Certified Geriatrician, the Eden Alternative now claims over 10,000 Associates, and 270 registered homes in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The management and staff of these homes, including Thornapple Manor, continue to work toward meaningful culture change through ongoing training and a continued dedication to making life better for those entrusted to our care.
The core concept of the Eden Alternative is strikingly simple. We must teach ourselves to see places where our residents live, as habitats for human beings rather than facilities for the frail and elderly. It shows us how the opportunity to give meaningful care to other living things, such as plants and companion animals, as well as the variety and spontaneity that mark an enlivened community, can succeed where pills and therapies fail. It also shows us how real leaders can create a warm culture that is characterized by optimism, trust, generosity, and teamwork to make a better world for our residents.

Most importantly, the Eden Alternative teaches us that decisions belong with our residents, or as close to our residents as possible. Long-term-care residents want, need, and deserve autonomy over their daily lives. Edenizing homes give it back to them.

To learn more about the Eden Alternative, pleave visit http://www.edenalt.org/