New approach to seniors' care

VANCOUVER – Providence Health Care has adopted a new philosophy that it hopes will radically improve the way it cares for seniors at its five care homes in B.C.

Geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Drance helped convince Providence implement the Eden Alternative.

She says the program aims to eradicate loneliness, helplessness and boredom – the three plagues afflicting most elders in care.

She says Eden's goal is to de-institutionalize and de-medicalize nursing homes, and fill them with plants, animals and children so that seniors have a chance to give care, as well as receive it.

Drance says, unfortunately, the typical nursing home is run like an acute care hospital.

"We applied the medical model to life, which it was never intended to do. The fact is that we all have the capacity to grow until the day that we die," she says.

Burquitlam Lions Care Centre CEO Renee Danylczuk who has adopted the new approach, says it's the way of the future for people who are not yet seniors.

"Many of us would not accept many of the practices that happen in care," she says. "And we need to start changing that and changing it now."

Providence Health Care hopes the Eden Alternative will catch on throughout the province.

For More Information: http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_seniors-eden20050329