Elant awarded grant from Warwick Savings Foundation

GOSHEN — An innovative project that is revolutionizing the way Elant delivers care to its 2,500 residents and clients recently was enhanced by a generous, $10,000 grant from the Warwick Savings Foundation. The foundation’s grant will help fund Elant’s Eden Alternative project, a network-wide program that is transforming the culture at Elant’s campuses of care. The program is designed to improve the well-being of elders and those who care for them by transforming the communities in which they live and work. At its core, the Eden Alternative seeks to create environments that are “habitats for human beings” rather than facilities that house the frail and elderly. As part of the Eden Alternative initiative, Elant has begun the process of training staff, encouraging multi-generational activities between the elderly and children and integrating horticulture and pet therapy activities into its programming. “The Eden Alternative helps foster relationships that provide the young and old alike with a pathway to a more fulfilling life,” said Donna G. McAleer, president and CEO of Elant. “The generous grant from the Warwick Savings Foundation will help us expand our efforts to eliminate the loneliness, helplessness and boredom that all too often plague the elderly.” The grant will help the network more fully implement the Eden program by providing the funds needed to expand the program and create more vibrant and vigorous environments for residents and staff members. Elant, Inc. is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that is a leading provider of services for older adults and chronically ill people of all ages. Elant has grown from a 120-bed nursing home established in 1985, to a comprehensive system of organizations that provide a full range of health and housing services to the Hudson Valley and beyond.