Physician hits the road to
tout better lives for
nation’s elderly

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

A physician noted for using plants, pets and children to combat some of the plagues of old age flew from Honolulu to New York this week to take his message on the road.

"Life for the oldest and sickest Americans can be different," says William H. Thomas. "What it takes is a public that places their frail elderly at the center of their communities, and a government that is willing to help."

Thomas, his wife and their five children were to leave today in a private bus, traveling across America to try to improve nursing homes and the quality of life for seniors.

A Harvard-trained doctor, Thomas founded the New York-based Eden Alternative to develop new tools to fight loneliness, helplessness and boredom in long-term care facilities.

He discussed the program during an international conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel the past three days on "Aging Societies in a New Millennium: Global Trends in Care and Services."

About 550 people from 35 countries attended the meetings, sponsored by the International Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

The association is sponsoring Thomas' journey to try to change the way elderly people are viewed.

He and his family, including a 5-month-old child and two disabled children, were to depart from Utica, N.Y., and end their cross-country journey July 31, swinging back to Washington, D.C.

During their travels, they will convene forums and talk to officials and groups about the need to change the concept of aging and caregiving. Their theme: "The Future of Aging and Elderhood."

Paul Wilmot, new chairman of the international association and chief executive officer of Anglican Homes Inc., said Thomas' talk here was riveting.

Wilmot said Thomas urged service and housing providers to look beyond the clinical approach to what a person really needs -- "a total integrated approach."

Thomas says the biggest enemy of the elderly is loneliness, Wilmot said. Thus, he uses birds, pets, plants and children to stimulate residents in care facilities.

Wilmot oversees 14 care facilities and 15 independent facilities in Western Australia with 1,600 residents and 850 staff members. Anglican Homes specializes in dementia care, he said.

He said Australia has fairly good systems for the elderly but is looking overseas for improvements. The conference here was an opportunity to share information and innovations, he said.

Robert Lagoyda, director of educational services for the association, based in Washington, D.C., said the 65-plus generation of the future will require different types of care services and facilities.

"Baby boomers are not going to be like older people today," he said. They are better educated and healthier and many will have resources. Technology also will have a big impact, he said.

Housebound people, for example, will be able to do all their shopping on the Internet and have products delivered, he said.

With constant changes in technology, he said, "Members and providers are challenged to stay on the cutting edge of what they can provide."

One of the biggest jobs is to disseminate information about the problems of aging, and services to give older people an improved quality of life, Lagoyda said.

With more and more people caring for elderly parents or trying to find care for them, he said, "Everyone's getting it."