Monkhouse Mondays: Exalted standards

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to be invited to the re-opening of the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zürich, Switzerland. It had been restored to it’s former glory by it’s visionary proprietor, the renovation taking four years to complete. Everyone knows that the Dolder is "THE place to stay“, a true benchmark in global tourism. On it’s website it rightfully prides itself to meet "exalted standards“.

During the 4th Eden-Alternative international Conference in Columbus, Ohio last week I learned from many organisations and individuals how they strive to make their nursing homes and their surrounding communities into "THE place to live“ for frail Elders and I got the impression that these efforts will lead to Eden being perceived as the "Dolder“, the desirable global standard. The only difference is that while one Dolder Grand Hotel will do, we will need many many more "Edens“. In comparison with today’s prevailing nursing home standards, Eden might indeed sound exalted – but – given what I learned at the conference - not for very much longer.