Celebrating Our Neighborhood Approach to Long-Term CareWhat do you get when you combine a homelike atmosphere, lots of plants and animals and the laughter and energy of children? An atmosphere where patients flourish, staff feels at home and inter-generational interaction benefits both old and young. You have the Eden Alternative.
The Eden AlternativeThe look and feel of Denali Center isn't happenstance; it's the result of studying new methods in caring for residents and the importance of a homelike atmosphere. And it's flourishing, thanks to enlightened, excited and caring staff whose ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality of life possible for Denali Center residents.
The Eden Alternative, adopted by hundreds of long-term care facilities throughout the United States, is revolutionizing the long-term care industry. The objective is to create an environment conducive to health and happiness that includes plants, animals and children. Some staff members bring their dogs to work and everyone wears street clothes – it is against policy for a nurse to wear a uniform.
A perfect compliment to the Eden Alternative comes with the neighborhood approach. Denali Center's Aspen Way, Birch Lane, Tamarack Trail and Willow Run are more than just wings in the facility, they have the look and feel of individual neighborhoods. Staff members are assigned to a specific neighborhood. This dynamic results in ownership and more cohesive teamwork. It is easier to solve medical and social issues when they arise, and by being in such close contact with residents, staff can more easily identify medical or emotional changes.
The overall benefits to everyone at Denali Center are readily visible. The Eden Alternative and neighborhood approach work to help bring an end to the three most common problems suffered by long-term residents: loneliness, helplessness and boredom.