Sweetwater Home for Seniors recently hosted The Eden Associate Training Conference at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater on May 7-9. The Eden Alternative, was founded by Dr. William H. Thomas and his wife, Judith Meyers Thomas of Sherburne, N.Y. Sweetwater Home for Seniors was able to provide the opportunity to educate the health care community about ways to create an honorable, respectful environment that is centered on the elderly in the community.

Transformation begins by education. The alternative living lifestyle arrangements such as the assisted living and nursing homes, caregivers and family members involved in the daily living activities of seniors need to be educated on the concepts and principles of Eden Alternative.

The purpose of the training is to introduce and bring about the transformations that are needed to establish living environments which nurtures the mental and physical well-being of seniors. By incorporating plants, animals and children into their world it provides them with the companionship, physical stimulation and variety they need.

In a new living environment, seniors experience what the Eden Alternative calls the “Three Plagues” — loneliness, helplessness and boredom. These three things can be manipulated in the minds of elders and make every day a frightening experience. 

The Eden Alternative also refers to seniors as elders, as it was the word used in other cultures because it is associated with wisdom. 

It is said the wisdom of our elders is honored and cherished by combatting these three plagues and taking away the pain they feel when they have the lack of companionship. It also provides the opportunity for them to share or offer their services to you. Although they are the ones receiving the care, they need to be able to offer their care or wisdom as well.

Finally the lack of physical activity, spontaneity and variety is a known factor in becoming helpless and bored. So, providing an environment that centers on spontaneity and physical interaction will take the boredom and loneliness away. The Eden Alternative is a culture change in the way we care for elders. It provides them with the same opportunities and living environments they have prospered their whole lives and will encourage the behavior changes needed to keep the elderly community intact with dignity and honor.

The conference ws taught by one of Eden Alternative’s associate professionals, Kort Nygard. Attending were staff members from Wood Village, Sweetwater Home for Seniors, Jefferson County Nursing Home and Keystone Adult Day Care Program in Oak Ridge. Each participant received an Eden Associate certificate and is now an official Eden Alternative Associate. The training class also awarded 21 NAB contact hours.

Conference sponsors included: Amedysis Home Health Care, United Community Bank, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Little Drugs, Archer’s Family Pharmacy, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Tennessee Foot & Ankle Clinic and Sweetwater Scrubs.

Services were provided by Magnuson Hotel, Miss Maudy’s Deli, Catering Connection, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Amedysis, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals.