People around the world are familiar with the story of Eden – the story of making a world for humans. In this story, the very first place where humans were created to live was a beautiful garden – The Garden of Eden.

That is the story that inspired the founder of the Eden Alternative, Dr. William Thomas, when he began to think about making a better world for our Elders.

Shortly after taking a job at the local nursing home, Dr. Thomas was making his rounds one day. He went to see a woman who had a rash on her arm. In his best doctor voice, he leaned down and screamed in her ear, "Hello, I’m Dr. Thomas, what can I do for you today?"

He will never forget the beautiful blue eyes that stared up at him as she reached up to draw him closer. And he will never forget the words she whispered, "Doctor, I am so lonely."

Those words haunted him for weeks as he searched his medical texts and found nothing. And so he began to think about a different kind of world. He began to think about a true human habitat – a place where humans could live, not just wait to die. And so began the story of the Eden Alternative. It is better to live in a garden.

The Eden Alternative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to remaking the experience of aging and disability across America and around the world. It is a powerful tool for improving the well-being of our Residents and their Caregivers. We are dedicated to supporting others in the creation of communities which eliminate the plagues of Loneliness, Helplessness, and Boredom, the plagues of the human spirit.

The core concept of The Eden Alternative teaches us to see aging not as decline, but as a continuous stage of growth and development in a human life. The places we create for our Residents to live should foster that growth and the growth of their Caregivers.

The Eden Alternative shows us how companionship, the opportunity to give meaningful care, and the variety and spontaneity that mark an enlivened environment can succeed where pills and therapies fail. It also shows us how progressive leaders can create a warm culture through empowerment and the development of teamwork as an organization-wide operating philosophy.

Most importantly, Eden teaches us that decisions belong with our Residents, or as close to our Residents as possible. Our Residents want, need, and deserve autonomy over their daily lives. Edenizing homes give it back to them.

The institutional model that has been dominant in the care of our Residents has many shortcomings. The plagues of the human spirit run rampant in these cold, sterile social and physical environments. Our Residents need and deserve an opportunity for a life worth living.

Helplessness - the pain we feel when we only receive care but do not have an opportunity to give care.

Boredom - the pain we feel when our lives lack variety and spontaneity.

Our Eden Journey began in 1999 when the Eden Alternative was introduced to our board of directors. Our management team attended a retreat to learn about the Eden Alternative and to begin forming our vision for the future.

Throughout our early years, much of the Eden Principles and Practices were considered as plans for The Villas and The Heritage were developed.

Since 2000, 24 staff members have been trained as Eden Associates including all of our leadership team. Associates mentor staff, residents and residents’ family members about the Eden Alternative.

In 2006, The Heritage opened and staff education began; Eden was incorporated into staff’s all-day in-service.

In 2007, Eden education is planned for all staff members, residents, family members and St. Paul Homes’ volunteers. Also this year families are being formed and will begin meeting.

By the end of 2007 we hope to validate Principle One "The three plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom account for the bulk of suffering among our residents." To validate an Eden Principle means that we fully understand the Principle and meet the guidelines established by the Eden Alternative to address that Principle.

As you can see, much has been accomplished through our Eden Journey. We have beautiful living accommodations that now include The Villas and The Heritage. Our buildings have moved from a medical model to a social model with a sense of homeness. Residents enjoy their private living areas as well as common areas including our great rooms, lounges, Bistro, sun rooms and sun porches and our beautiful courtyard.

The ways in which we do things continues to change. We’re learning the value of developing meaningful relationships with one-another, as well as the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for residents and staff. Variety and spontaneity are becoming more common place.

We continue to evaluate the policies and procedures that guide us and we realize that changing them often enhances the lives of our residents.

Positive changes we’ve made that promote our journey include eliminating overhead paging in The Villas; improving spa experiences for residents; providing steady assignments for staff; incorporating soup carts at supper time for residents, and much more.

Several initiatives introduced over the past few years have a great impact on our Journey. Joining Generations bridges the gap between younger and mature adults. This is a collaborative program of Thiel College and St. Paul Homes. Best Friends gives us the opportunity to get to know our residents better. Through an interview, residents share their life stories and those stories are posted in the curios outside the residents’ rooms. Our PEER Program (Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents) gives residents opportunity to advocate for one another. It’s Never 2 Late (better known as KIT) gives residents an opportunities to keep in touch with family and friends, technology, world affairs, personal interests and more through adaptive computer equipment and software. In addition, all staff work to provide a variety of meaningful activities for residents.

Although we have accomplished much, we believe that there is so much more to learn and experience on our Journey. As families begin to meet they’ll have an opportunity to identify new ways in which to change our culture that nurtures the human spirit of residents.