Philosophy of Care
The Eden Alternative
We have adopted the Eden Alternative as our philosophy of care at Avante Care & Support. The philosophy provides a framework for staff to consider ‘care’ differently, taking a positive approach and seeing the move to a care home as the start of a vibrant new chapter.
The philosophy is about moving away from the stereotypical care home environment and creating a new, inviting home space with person-centred care, eliminating loneliness, helplessness and boredom. It works on the principle of getting to know each resident well and building a tailored care plan around their specific needs and how they feel.
The Aim
As we head into older age or the new phase of our lives, many face new challenges around loneliness, boredom and feelings of helplessness, especially for those receiving care.
The Eden Alternative aims to reduce these challenges, creating an environment where older people can experience a better quality of life. It ensures residents have opportunities to build relationships with each other, staff, children, and animals, and stay connected with the surrounding community and beyond.
Through our daily programme of events, we create a thriving, vibrant environment. We offer person-centred care and assist older people in their new life journeys.
The seven domains of wellbeing we all need
Identity
As we grow older, we can feel more invisible and not valued for our wisdom and life experience. The Eden Philoposy seeks to recognise everyone’s individualism, such as their history and life story. You may be parents or grandparents, had a thriving career or contributed plenty to society and deserve to be celebrated.
Our carers also deserve the same value; they have a story and a purpose outside of the care home environment, whether it’s a family, friends or hobbies.
Security
Security is more than our care home buildings. Security is feeling secure enough to speak up when things aren’t how you like them. We strive for our residents to feel assured in the care home environment with privacy, respect and dignity. It’s an open environment where staff members can share their thoughts and concerns about how we treat residents and those we care for.
Autonomy
We all deserve the right to make our own decisions about how to live our lives. It’s about making small decisions for our residents, vital for their wellbeing, such as deciding their bedtime, mealtime, and daily outfits. It’s equally crucial for our team to feel empowered making decisions on the best thing for our residents rather than seek permission from ‘the boss’.
Joy
Joy is more than happiness; it’s about the little moments which lift your spirits, boosting your overall mood. Cultivating joy is essential at Avante Care & Support in our activities, person-centred care and team environment. The Eden Alternative approach successfully works when joy is at the heart of what we do.
Growth
Even if you require assistance with everyday tasks, learning shouldn’t stop. We provide a daily activities programme in our care homes, encouraging residents to learn new skills, develop new interests and connect with others around them. Our staff can also thrive in the constant connection with others, learning how best to support our residents and learn from their life experiences.
Staying connected
Community is everything to our residents and those we care for. As we grow older, our world becomes smaller, and we struggle to live the same lives we once did. Connecting with the community and beyond at Avante Care & Support can help you stay in touch with interests, friends and staff, boosting morale. We strive to reduce loneliness by encouraging a social and fulfilling environment.
Meaning
Life should have meaning. As we grow older, we can lose our purpose a little. Being able to do things that have meaning helps create an enriching and fulfilling every day instead of just filling in time. The key is getting to know everyone well, including our residents and carers, as we can cultivate an environment where everyone feels seen and heard and can partake in activities they love.
The Result
The Eden Alternative offers an opportunity for our team to create an enriching environment and build close relationships with our residents and those they care for, improving the lives of our community and beyond.
As society perceives the older community as a time of loss, losing the connection with others, feelings of loneliness, helplessness and boredom are more likely to exist. With the Eden philosophy, its principles work together to tackle this societal stereotype, helping older people thrive.
