No matter where we live, or how old we are, we should be able to enjoy the warm companionship of a dog, the satisfaction that comes from nurturing a seedling and the excitement of a child's laughter.       These beliefs have led us           to the Eden Alternative. That is just why we are an Eden Alternative™ facility. The core concept of the Eden Alternative™ is to change nursing homes from conventional hospital-like institutions into diverse environments where elders live in a more home-like atmosphere. By adding plants, animals and children, nursing facility reflect normal life outside the facility. Residents interact with the children, for instance, reading to them and watching them play. Residents take part in caring for the animals and the plants, including keeping pets and plants in their own rooms if they wish. All of this gives them a sense of purpose that is often lacking in a typical facility setting. The spontaneous nature of children and animals breaks up the staid routine of traditional nursing communities, making Edenized facilities vibrant and lively. The Eden Alternative helps give residents a reason to get out of bed - and out of their rooms - in the morning.