Eden Alternative
Elant's
Journey to Eden
The Eden Alternative journey for the Elant corporation began in July 2004 when President and CEO Donna G. McAleer arranged for three employees to attend Eden Associate training to explore the feasibility of Elant integrating the Eden philosophy into its homes.
The goal of the Eden Alternative is to improve the well-being of elders and those who care for them by transforming the communities in which they live and work.
Patricia Vuolo, vice president of clinical affairs, Cheryl Dorn, vice president and executive director of Elant at Newburgh, and Eileen Masterson, director of nursing for Elant at Goshen, completed training in Rhode Island. Upon their return they met with Ms. McAleer to enthusiastically recommend that the Elant organization seek approval from its Board of Director to begin what has come to be known as our "culture change," using the Eden Alternative as the model for our homes.
In November 2004, the Board of Directors the held a full-day retreat and unanimously agreed to initiate the Eden Alternative on Elant campuses.
In early 2005, Elant engaged an Eden Alternative instructor to lead a three-day retreat for Elant's Eden Associates. Led by Ms. Vuolo, staff education about the Eden philosophy continued in earnest during 2005 for employees of Elant at Goshen, Elant at Newburgh and Glen Arden.
In July 2005, three additional employees, two certified nurses aides and the director of activities at Elant at Goshen, completed Eden Associate training in New Jersey. Eden Associates met with their respective middle management teams to develop a budget for moving Eden forward in 2006.
In January 2006, the middle management teams at Elant at Goshen, Glen Arden Inc. and Elant at Brandywine began work on their respective Eden mission and vision statements. Meetings were held with administrators and Eden Associates took a lead role in planning. In March, additional employees were sent for training as Eden Associates
More training ensued in 2006, and the number of Eden Associates within the Elant system grew to nearly two dozen.
In the fall of 2006, the hard work and training paid off. Three Elant campuses - Elant at Goshen, Elant at Newburgh and Glen Arden -- were recognized as Eden Registered Facilities. The culture change initiative will continue in earnest in 2007 across the Elant network.
Nursing Home Care • Rehabilitation Services • Community Health Services • Adult Day Care • Adult Family Foster Care • Adult Home Living • Assistive Living • Children's Learning Center and Summer Camp Services • Companion Care • Enriched Housing • Independent Living • Licensed Home Health Services • Managed Long Term Care Plan • Personal Emergency Response System • Retirement Living • Volunteer Services
