• The Eden Alternative is an international, not-for-profit organization based on the core belief that aging is a continued stage of growth and development, rather than a period of decline. The Eden Alternative’s principle-based philosophy is a powerful tool guiding organizations through the journey of culture change.
  • The mission 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. The vision is to eliminate loneliness, helplessness and boredom.
  • Founded in 1994 by Dr. William Thomas, a Harvard-educated physician and board-certified geriatrician, the Eden Alternative is governed by a national all-volunteer board and led by CEO, Chris Perna and Executive Director, Carol Ende.
  • The Eden Alternative has trained over 23,000 Eden Associates and has over 200 registered homes in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. With presence in Eastern and Western Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Switzerland and England, International Eden Alternative Regional Coordinators are bringing the Eden Alternative Philosophy and Principles across the world.
  • The Eden Alternative provides transformative education and expert support to people from around the world that are using the Eden Alternative Philosophy through workshops, consultations, networking and books written by Dr. Thomas and the Eden Registry.
  • The Eden Registry is an international support network dedicated to advancing culture change in their states and countries. Each organization’s journey is unique and the Eden Alternative does not have a programmed approach for all homes to follow; the homes on the Eden Registry are made publicly available as role models for other organizations seeking transformative culture change.
  • Studies show that implementation of the Eden Alternative is a powerful tool for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in nursing homes. In homes that have adopted Eden Alternative as an organizational-wide philosophy, there is often improved staff satisfaction and retention and significant decreases in the overuse of medications and restraints.
  • The mission of the Eden Alternative extends past the walls of the nursing home offering support for the entire continuum of care. As an initiative of the Eden Alternative, Eden at Home captures the essence and successes of the Eden Alternative’s Ten Principles as they apply to improving quality of life for Elders living at home and their care partners. With an eye for changing the culture of care in our communities, Eden at Home emphasizes building creative and collaborative care partner teams empowered by concepts central to person-directed care.
  • In 2009, the non-profit Seaton Foundation partnered with the Eden Alternative to establish Eden LifeLong Living to promote well-being and a better quality of life for individuals with cognitive disabilities and the staff who support them. Eden LifeLong Living is based on the belief that individuals with cognitive disabilities can have a good quality of life and continue to grow and learn within a supportive living environment.