Cultural change in long-term care facilities is a paradigmatic approach that moves from institutional to person-centered care. The direction associates the dignity and autonomy of residents with their individual needs. Traditional care models frequently produce feelings of isolationism, powerlessness, and boredom in the residents. To counteract this, novel models such as Eden Alternative and Green House Project have been designed to provide homelike settings where residents feel valued and actively participate in their care. These two models will be discussed in detail regarding their effectiveness of care, cost-effectiveness implications for quality of life, and the possibility that biblical principles could be included.
Eden Alternative
The Eden Alternative, advocated by Dr. Bill Thomas, a Harvard-trained physician, intends to create an entirely different approach in long-term care facilities. Based on the conviction that loneliness, subsequent helplessness, and boredom are nothing but diseases of old age itself, Eden Alternative makes life abundant in plants, animals as well as children; it creates a human habitat where existence revolves around continuous fellowship with nature. This model does not only care for the body of man but also cares about his soul. The Eden Alternative implementation has shown an improved quality of life for residents and staff satisfaction as well, but it is successfully used in different care settings across the world.
Green House Project
The Green House Project, a new approach to elder care, changes the traditional model and provides an environment that fosters homelike surroundings. This model, established by Dr. Bill Thomas and his daughter Susan Frazier, emphasizes the independence of residents in their lives. All residents benefit from a single room with a bath and complete control over their lifestyle. The core of the Green House Project is a 24/7 hours open kitchen, encouraging community living and self-reliance. This model is based on the individual’s right toward a life worth living, which is emphasized by giving importance to relationships with elders. The Green House Project is organized and realized in different states across the United States to create a setting where elders can thrive, unlike they would traditionally be cared for.
Efficacy of Care
The Eden Alternative and Green House Project have shown effective care. According to research, all studies reveal that residents of these models have much better physical and mental health outcomes than those in conventional nursing homes (Larkey, 2021). They have a lower rate of admission, lower incidences of pressure ulcers, and report higher satisfaction with care. These models take a comprehensive care approach that seeks to address the physical, psychological, and social needs of residents. Through promoting relevant participation and nurturing a sense of belonging, they play an essential role in enhancing health outcomes and general well-being. The Eden Alternative and the Green House Project focus on personalized care by customizing services to meet residents’ unique requirements (Sharmin, 2023). This customized approach allows for a more effective and efficient care delivery system compared to the generic model used in most long-term settings. These models offer the promise to transform the landscape of long-term care by investing in human connections and addressing the deeper psychological and emotional needs of residents.
Cost Effectiveness
From the perspective of cost-effectiveness, both Eden Alternative and the Green House Project have produced encouraging outcomes. Despite the fact that budget-wise, implementing these models may require more significant investments in staff training, physical adjustments, and so on, it enables them to decrease hospitalization rates at a point in time while boosting employee retention (Desai et al., 202). Additionally, the increased resident satisfaction can boost the attraction of new residents, further increasing revenue incomes for the facility. Financially oriented investigations of these models provide encouraging results. For example, the Green House model has been said to be either cost-neutral or even savings compared with conventional nursing homes.
Similarly, the Eden Alternative has also shown cost efficiency. One study found that hospitalization rates were reduced by 15% under this alternative. A combination of these financial benefits and enhanced quality of patient care serves as a solid indicator that innovative models adopted in LTC institutions can have considerable long-term advantages.
Quality of Life
The Eden Alternative and the Green House Project have the quality of life as one of their fundamental components. Both models are focused on improving quality of life through increasing the “homelike” nature, autonomy, and opportunity for meaningful engagement. Uniformly, studies of these models reveal that residents report higher levels of life satisfaction and well-being. There is a stronger feeling of being part of and staying home as opposed to those in the usual care places.
The people living in the Eden Alternative and Green House Project not only benefit from care but also feel cared about (Niyongabo, 2020). Not only addressing efficiency but also recognizing individual needs and preferences makes sure that care is also meaningful. Moreover, having more opportunities for social interactions and engagements enhances residents’ mental health. These models reshape the ultimate goal of long-term care, not only prolonging life but also improving its quality.
Incorporating Biblical Principles
Incorporating biblical ideas into the Eden Alternative and Green House Project has the potential to bring an even better outcome. Principles such as love, respect, and dignity for every individual are very much in accordance with the patient-centered philosophy of these models. In faith-based senior living communities, spiritual care is frequently included in the range of services provided, given that it can play a crucial role in an individual’s health. These communities aim to maintain a supportive and loving atmosphere through which residents can grow spiritually. Additionally, ethical principles in the areas of geriatrics and long-term care are consistent with biblical values regarding respect for autonomy and beneficence (T. Skuban et al., 2023). Long-term care facilities should integrate these principles in their models of care services as they promote total physical and emotional well-being as well as spiritual satisfaction. This comprehensive approach also takes into account the complexities of human life, emphasizing an aspect that it should be spiritual.
The Eden Alternative and Green House Project are critical innovations in long-term care. They provide a client-centered intervention that greatly enhances residents’ quality of life and relates to positive health outcomes. The possible interjection of biblical tenets further enriches these models as they correspond to the broader value system in society that includes love, respect, and dignity for all human beings. The aging population emphasizes the need for such transformative models in long-term care. The Eden Alternative and the Green House Project present an alternative idea of what long-term care should look like—a place where every person is essential, and everyone has something to live for. The conversion of long-term care centers into homes where senior citizens will continue to mature and flourish is not only a good notion; it’s essential. These models show that quality and caring care can be possible, which is fundamentally important in ensuring elders receive the right kind of treatment during their retirement period.
References
Desai, N. R., Campbell, C., Electricwala, B., Petrou, M., Trueman, D., Woodcock, F., & Cristino, J. (2022). Cost Effectiveness of Inclisiran in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Patients with Elevated Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Despite Statin Use: A Threshold Analysis. American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, 22.5(2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40256-022-00534-9
Larkey, F. A. (2021). Situating Eden—Culture change in residential aged care: A scoping review. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 41.2(2022). https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.13028
Niyongabo, D. (2020). The greenhouse nursing home model: the GH elements and their impact on quality of care in nursing homes. Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/3540
Sharmin, S. (2023, August 24). Person-centered care and residents’ mealtime experience in long-term care homes: A review of the literature. Summit.sfu.ca. https://summit.sfu.ca/item/36544
- Skuban, Orzechowski, M., Denkinger, M., Kocar, T. D., Christoph Leinert, & Steger, F. (2023). Artificial Intelligence–based Clinical Decision Support Systems in Geriatrics: An Ethical Analysis. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2023.06.008
write