Beautiful
People
and Beautiful
Events
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Helping the Forgotten
Find a Garden of Eden
(Originally in English)
A physician and farmer in upstate New York combined his knowledge and compassion for people and animals into innovative endeavors to improve their quality of life. As medical director of a nursing home, William Thomas ♥♥♥♥ recognized nurturing possibilities for animals and elderly people, while working his 258-acre farm in Sherburne, N.Y.
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Animals and elderly people share tenderness and love. |
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He turned the facility’s manicured front lawn into an organic garden so the seniors could eat freshly picked vegetables and enjoy a flourishing garden environment. He also gave every senior a parakeet and populated the nursing home with cats, dogs, and plants. Thomas states, “People have forgotten some of the most important things that animals can teach us.”
A study by the New York State Health Department showed that this nursing home then experienced a 50 percent decrease in infection, a 71 percent dip in daily drug costs for each senior, and a 26 percent drop in nurse’s aide turnover. This became the first “Eden Alternative” nursing home and allowed William Thomas to create a nonprofit organization that now lists 300 Eden Home conversions in America and an additional 200 overseas.
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Enjoying a “family-style” dinner. |
Keeping in touch with nature at one of the “Eden Alternative” nursing homes. |
Thomas is a visionary, whose resourceful
leadership is successfully transforming nursing homes from isolate,
despairing institutions to thriving, dignified, family-like atmospheres.
Another innovation from William Thomas is the creation of Eldershire,
a multigenerational “intentional community.” He says,
“People of all ages will live better lives when we…bring
elders back to the heart of our society,” and it seems that
this thoughtful, energetic man is also bringing society back into
the hearts of our elders. 
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Books written by Dr. William Thomas |
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References:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060619/19leader.htm
http://www.eldershire.net/Vision/WillamThomas.php
http://www.edenalt.com/
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