The Elderwise Way

Happy to be together…naturally. The consistent, compassionate, and welcoming rhythm of activities at Elderwise contributes to the joy and camaraderie of being together.

Spirit-Centered Care

In recent years, the concept of person-centered care has been considered the gold standard in the long-term care industry. This is a welcome shift from care which focused primarily on the body – a person's need to be bathed, fed and medically treated. It also represented an important evolution from the earlier focus on facility-level needs and staff schedules, which were often prioritized over the needs of people in their care.

Person-centered care considers the individual and his or her preferences. It considers when someone might want to get up, what they might like for breakfast and even whether they want to eat breakfast at all. In addition, persons are given choices regarding their lifestyle, activities and social opportunities. This represents important progress in allowing for and acknowledging who a person is and recognizing the continuity of their life.

We believe that Spirit-centered Care goes deeper than person-centered care towards the essence of who a person really is.  This approach represents the core of Elderwise programming and informs our moment-to-moment interactions with people. At Elderwise, we acknowledge and honor the wholeness of all individuals, addressing what endures in spite of physical or cognitive changes and nurturing joy, meaning, and connection in creative community.