Interested in finding out about transforming the life of residents and workers in aged care in Australasia? Heard of the Eden Alternative™? Want to know more about it, how it works and where it operates in

Australia

? You may wish to be part of Eden in Oz.
A not for profit organisation.

We are developing the ‘down under’ philosophy and practice of the Eden Alternative which has been created and grown in the United States, by Dr William Thomas, and is now spreading around the world.

The core concept of the Eden Alternative™ is simple: We must teach ourselves to see existing and new care environments as habitats for human beings that promote health and well being rather than facilities for the frail and elderly. The Eden Alternative™ shows us how companion animals, children and plants help in providing an opportunity for a meaningful contribution and care, and how the Eden Alternative™ works at preventing and eliminating the aged care plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

Our Journey

Eden in Oz was originally formed by some passionate people who were inspired after hearing Dr Bill Thomas in Hawaii in 1999, and who believed that aged care could be different. They returned to Oz, and worked with staff at their homes and facilities to grow Eden training and mentoring throughout Australasia and soon after Bill Thomas formed them into a Board of Directors. This small group of dedicated people have trained well over 550 people who are now Eden Associates working at introducing the steps toward sustainable culture change that embrace innovative ways of mentoring and leadership.

Training in the Eden Alternative™ is an essential part of transforming individual and organisational attitudes to care, where the model of care is based on wellness, and the empowerment of all in the environment – especially the elders/residents.

We offer Eden Associates:

Support via the website where they can contact other Eden Associates either individually or on a state wide basis
Documents to download in an Associates only section to assist in ongoing learning Newsletter to keep in touch with new things as they happen in Australasia as well as overseas
Associate meetings which are growing state by state and provide an educative component – so there is always something new and fun to learn and share
Further education that can be tailored to the needs of the home, staff and residents as desired to fit in with the culture change
Mentoring via phone, email or visits to other homes
A registration process that gives guide lines that you can individually tailor for your home/service that assists you in bringing about the culture change and keeps you on the Eden journey.

Eden Associates are invited to contribute their stories so that other Associates, aged care professionals and the public can read and understand the wonderful changes taking place in services providing a life worth living for our elders/residents. Eden in Oz will grow in its own directions and find its own style. However there will always be links to the foundations of the Eden Alternative™. If you would like more information, you are welcome to use this link (Eden Alternative).

If you wish to view homes/services that are Edenising and on the journey they are listed under Registered Homes, or if you wish to attend the Eden training check out the workshops throughout Australasia under the training section.

Why is the Eden Alternative™ important in mental health and well being?

Through the Eden Alternative™ many people have learned that loneliness is a reason why many people give up the will to live. This can happen in the community, in your own home or in an aged care facility. It can happen throughout life however at Eden in Oz we concentrate on those who are receiving care from aged care services.

Many of the practices we have in aged care rob our elders/residents of opportunities to provide care and create a sense of helplessness, and our sense of purpose fades along with the reason for living.

Thirdly although we provide programs and activities that many elders have not previously partaken in, there is a sense of sameness or lack of control that often leads to boredom in the lives of those elders/residents we care for.

The Eden Alternative Philosophy recognises that loneliness, helplessness and boredom are the killers of older age not the physical ailments of the aged. Eden in Oz promotes a holistic approach to maintaining the wellbeing of elders including mental health through eliminating loneliness, helplessness and boredom. This is done by promoting participation in a healthy human community to improve and continue to grow spiritual and emotional wellbeing and to prevent mental illness and organic disease in older people.

The purposes of Eden in Oz include the improvement of the quality of life of older people in the community by promoting their mental health and cognitive function. By implementing the Eden Alternative™ philosophy, Eden in Oz fosters the creation of aged care services that promote mental health and wellbeing. It extends the traditional views of elder care by addressing the areas that holistically contribute to an individual’s mental health and assist in preventing mental illness.

Eden in Oz primarily educates those who provide care for elders/residents in the importance of the elders/residents mental health. It informs and educates the general community about the potential for improving mental health and consequently the quality of life for elders.

If you wish to contact us, we would love to hear your story, so please send an email to Eden in Oz and we will respond as soon as possible.

Welcome to the adventure, the life changes and experiences that the Eden Alternative™ and Eden in Oz offer our elders/residents, their families and those who work with them. A growing number of fellow Australians have started the journey - please join us.