What does the Eden Alternative philosophy mean to those who practice it? Gary Kelso, president of Eden-registered Mission Health Care in Salt Lake City recently sat down with Provider Magazine to discuss his organization’s dedication to the Eden journey and the many benefits reaped by residents and staff alike.
Kelso said the most striking result seen since adopting the Eden philosophy is the quality of life for elders and the staff.
“When someone comes to a long term care center there’s a perception that they’ve come there to die,” Kelso told Provider Magazine Editor Meg LaPorte. “But when they come to an Eden home we believe that a person’s life continues and that continuation of life provides an opportunity for people to be engaged in the day-to-day life of that person.”
This philosophy helps both the elders and the staff to thrive. For instance, when Kelso first joined Mission eight years ago their staffing turnover was up to 70 percent, which is below average for a nursing home. That rate has dropped to below 12 percent in the past three years since adopting the Eden Alternative, Kelso said.
