Posted: June 24, 2024
At Casey’s Pond, a vibrant senior living and continued care community nestled in the scenic Steamboat Springs, CO, residents embark on a remarkable journey of purposeful living. Guided by the innovative Eden Alternative approach, this community understands the importance of finding purpose and belonging as we age.
Let’s explore how the Eden Alternative empowers residents at Casey’s Pond, fosters meaningful connections, and transforms lives.
Casey’s Pond is a registered Eden Alternative community dedicated to resident empowerment and purposeful engagement throughout the community. At its core, the Eden Alternative is an inclusive approach to continued care that supports the whole person, that upholds their right to a life full of purpose and possibility, regardless of their age or changing abilities. This method affirms that care is most effective through collaboration, and the training and programming is aimed at building partnerships between adults and care partners to eliminate helplessness, loneliness, and boredom for aging adults.
As we age, it’s common to feel a loss of purpose, leading to feelings of isolation and disengagement. The Eden Alternative addresses this challenge head-on. By embracing all three roadblocks – loneliness, helplessness, and boredom – this approach helps residents regain their sense of control and fulfillment in their lives, regardless of age or ability.
Casey’s Pond residents are empowered to find the strengths and skills to find their purpose alongside their neighbors. Opportunities designed to promote independent living ultimately reinforce the three antidotes of the Eden Alternative:
The Eden Alternative is built upon three practice principles:
At Casey’s Pond, a resident’s choice, autonomy and influence is embraced. Through meaningful engagement with neighbors and staff, residents build genuine relationships and discover new passions, hobbies, and opportunities to contribute, helping to find a new sense of purpose.
Being an Eden Alternative community, Casey’s Pond is on a continual path towards transforming to a whole-person-directed model of continued care. It’s the belief that the work of building a collaborative and resilient culture never stops and it’s important to keep learning and adapting. Through a supportive community, residents find solace and encouragement among peers, creating a nurturing environment for personal development.
The Eden Alternative approach plays a vital role at Casey’s Pond and focuses on several domains to enrich the lives of residents. These domains are as follows:
Each domain is unique to us and our own personalities and histories, but to maximize each of them requires that residents feel well known. By incorporating these domains into daily life, Casey’s Pond ensures that residents have the opportunity to thrive, find purpose and belonging, and experience a fulfilling lifestyle.
Living in a continued care senior living community like Casey’s Pond provides a unique opportunity for aging adults to rediscover purpose and belonging through shared experiences and socialization. With each opportunity influenced by the Eden Alternative, residents are given the chance to engage in group activities, form deep connections, share stories, and find inspiration from one another. Whether through a shared meal, a conversation in one of the outdoor spaces, or though a bond formed at a group activity, this sense of camaraderie that emerges from the lifestyle promoted at Casey’s Pond helps foster a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment.
A senior living professional at Casey’s Pond recently shared with us a story on profound impact of purpose in life, discovered by observing her dog, Toby. Toby, her beloved West Highland Terrier, found joy and fulfillment chasing squirrels in the backyard. When they moved to a condo where Toby couldn’t pursue his favorite activity, he became visibly depressed and anxious – leading to multiple visits to the vet.
This staff member realized that Toby’s happiness depended largely on fulfilling his purpose, which was playing with the squirrels. Drawing from personal insight and realizing the importance of purpose in Toby, she was able to recognize the significance of purpose in her professional role. Providing opportunities to find purpose to residents and colleagues is important, as is understanding that each individual finds fulfillment differently. She has been witness of the joy of watching residents discover purpose in a community setting, which reinforces the idea that personal relationships are important as we age and building a sense of purpose is truly essential for true happiness.
At Casey’s Pond, the Eden Alternative approach infuses every aspect of life, empowering residents to live with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Through the three antidotes, guiding principles, the various domains, and the community culture at Casey’s Pond, residents embark on a transformative journey that redefines the aging experience. Discover the power of purposeful living at Casey’s Pond, where every day is an opportunity for growth, connection, and personal fulfillment.
© 2024 Casey's Pond
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