The Eden Alternative™ helps us to see aging as a life worth living and focus on wellness.
Kathleen has been actively involve in the Eden Alternative movement as the International Coordinator since 1998. She has facilitated training of health care providers to become Certified Eden Associates, held workshops and seminars across Eastern Canada. Kathleen co-authored the book "The Road To Eden North: How Five Canadian Long-Term Care Facilities Became Eden Alternative which was published by CHA in 2004.
Katheen's qualifications include a Bachelor's of Science in Health Services Management, Certified Healthcare Project Manager and a Certified Adult Educator.
Brian has a medical practise which is now into the fifth generation of many families. His work caring for people in a sizable regional hospital includes ER shifts. He has an office in a nearby aboriginal community, runs a methadone clinic for narcotic addicts, and serves as the Medical Director of a large local long term care home. Brian is also the District Medical Director of Continuing Care for Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health District. He currently chairs a group that is developing guidelines to assist doctors in appropriate prescribing for the frail Elderly. The emphasis is on reducing the poly-pharmacy subjected to Elders and is being done in conjunction with the Department of Geriatrics at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also working with Geriatricians to development assessment tools to improve the assessment of Elders by physicians and staff in Long Term Care homes.
Brian resides in the Antigonish, Nova Scotia area on an organic farm with his wife Stacey. They grow most of their own food, harvesting year round from their garden, orchard, cold frames and green house. Brian interests include baking, biking, ocean kayaking and music. He is a drummer for a rhythm and blues group call “Working Class Band”. (www.workingclassband.com)
SYLVIA BLEYSWYK
Sylvia has an extensive background in the Social Services which includes research, design and facilitation of a wide range of workshops. She is a qualified to administer and interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Sylvia is a trained counselor with extensive facilitation and conflict resolution experience.
As an active member of a Long Tern Care Management team, Sylvia is using her epertise to introduce programs which enhance the quality of life for the elders and the staff. Using her own personal experience of her mother living in a nursing home for over 10 years. Sylvia brins a deep and passionate dedication to ensuring the lives of our elders are spent in comfort and dignity while bringing about positive changes in the Long Term Care homes. Sylvis is a culture change facilitator.
