A Collective Effort to Elevate Elderhood
Culture change is a national movement to transform the way we think about and provide care to people, whether they are living independently, in an assisted living community or in a nursing home.
Culture change is a national movement to transform the way we think about and provide care to people, whether they are living independently, in an assisted living community or in a nursing home.
The Colorado Culture Change Coalition seeks to transform the culture throughout the long-term care continuum by affirming the dignity and value of each individual who lives and works in these settings.
What is
Elderhood?
"Elder" is a term of honor.
It was and continues to be used in many cultures. In 1977, Barry Barkan and the Live Oak Regenerative Community defined it this way:
An Elder is a person who is still growing, still a learner, still with potential and whose life continues to have within it promise for, and connection to the future. An Elder is still in pursuit of happiness, joy, and pleasure, and her or his birthright to these remains intact. Moreover, an Elder is a person who deserves respect and honor and whose work is to synthesize wisdom from long life experience and formulate this into a legacy for future generations.
Elders promote a culture that values understanding, social caring, wisdom and peace. It constitutes what we call “Elderhood”, a fourth stage of life:
1. Childhood
2. Adolescent
3. Adulthood
4. Elderhood
