
Transform Care. Support Meaningful Lives. Empower Your Team.
The Illinois Pioneer Coalition's goal is to provide education and resources that will assist all entities that serve Elders in transforming their culture of care to be person-centered. By partnering with The Eden Alternative®, we make it easier for care providers, families, and organizations across our state to access trusted resources, practical education, and a strong network of support.
Eden's self-paced courses and special events—such as the 2026 Eden Alternative International Conference—give care partners, leaders, and team members practical skills they can apply every day. Together, we’re building vibrant, supportive communities across Illinois, where everyone living and working here can connect, flourish, and experience a higher quality of life.
Supporting Illinois Care Partners
The Eden Alternative International Conference in partnership with Dementia Action Alliance
Go Further with Eden Membership
Education is only the beginning. Membership makes culture change sustainable. Learn More here.
Self-Study Courses (CE Credits Included)
Courses provide actionable strategies and meaningful support for caregivers, leaders, and teams. Accredited by NAB, NCCDP, and SHRM, our offerings help you easily meet continuing education requirements. Explore our course collection.
Foundational In-Person Learning Opportunities
For teams ready to deepen their learning together, we offer in-person training that builds shared language, shared purpose, and collective leadership confidence. Explore Upcoming Events.
We’re excited to share that the Eden Alternative® International Conference, in partnership with the Dementia Action Alliance, will take place March 9–12, 2026, in Atlanta, GA.
This year’s theme — In Unity, We Thrive: Inspiring Change, Creating Connection — speaks to the heart of our work here in Illinois. Across the state, we’re building care environments rooted in respect, relationships, and the belief that every person deserves a life filled with meaning and purpose.
This global gathering brings together care partners, people living with dementia, organizational leaders, advocates, policy influencers, and culture change champions who share a commitment to transforming care for the better. It’s an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and bring new ideas and tools home to support our communities.
Together, our collective efforts are transforming care environments into places where everyone can truly flourish.
From Caregiving to Care Partnering
A More Connected Way to Support at Home
Across our communities, many individuals are supporting someone they care about at home — as family members, friends, neighbors, or care professionals. While this role is deeply meaningful, it can also feel complex and overwhelming without the right tools and support.
Our coalition is pleased to share Caregiving to Care Partnering, a live, online course from The Eden Alternative® that offers a relationship-centered approach to supporting others. This course helps participants shift from a traditional caregiving model to one of care partnership, emphasizing dignity, identity, and mutual growth.
The course begins March 18, 2026, and is delivered live and online, making it accessible to participants across our region and beyond.

Eden Membership: A Pathway to Sustainable Transformation
As an Eden Member, you have access to:
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The Eden Tracks & Practices — step-by-step, proven tools for implementing person-directed care.
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The Eden Alternative APP — learning on-demand, anytime, anywhere, with progress tracking that keeps your whole team aligned.
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A Resource library — filled with practical guides, tools, and real world strategies for sustaining culture change.
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A Private Member Community — where you can connect with others on the same journey, ask questions, share wins, and learn together.
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Online Gatherings & Support Calls — to keep momentum strong, stay inspired, and prevent culture change from fading over time.
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Discounted Pricing on select events, training, and certification opportunities.
Unlimited Access
Give your entire organization access to evidence-informed self-study courses that strengthen skills, deepen relationships, and support a culture of person-directed care. Flexible, on-demand learning for every care partner—anytime, anywhere.
Choose from several bundle options designed to support your whole team’s growth. The Welcoming New Employees Bundle provides unlimited access to foundational courses that help build a consistent, person-directed approach from day one. The Best Practices in Person-Directed Dementia Bundle offers evidence-informed training for teams supporting individuals living with dementia, emphasizing empowerment, well-being, and proactive care.
Empowering people, organizations, and cultures
Designed for professionals and family care partners alike, these self-study courses explore key topics in:
- Dementia care and well-being
- Workforce engagement and resilience
- Person-directed care practices that work in real-world settings
Each course blends evidence-based learning with the human side of care, helping you create meaningful change from wherever you are.
Gain Strategies to Help People Live Well with Dementia
6-Course Series
Discover a powerful new way to understand and support people living with dementia. The Living Well with Dementia self-study bundle brings together six transformative courses from The Eden Alternative®, designed to help you replace outdated, symptom-based care with a compassionate, person-directed approach.
Each course offers practical strategies grounded in real-world experience and The Eden Alternative’s Domains of Well-Being® — a proven framework for seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
Enhance Your Role as a Care Partner
30 Days to More Fulfilling Care Partnerships
A consumer-friendly, 30-day series of short audio practices focused on practical, person-directed care partnership skills—ideal for both family and employee care partners.
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The Groundwork: Rethink Your Paradigm
Explore the five essential mindset shifts that make person-directed care possible. This session blends insight and real-world examples to help teams create cultures rooted in empowerment and meaning.
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The Framework: Reveal the Possibilities
This course introduces the core Eden Alternative® approach, combining the Ten Principles and the Domains of Well-Being® into a flexible, person-first framework for organizational and personal transformation.
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Community Building
Learn how to build a true community—not a resort—where people belong, contribute, and thrive. This course covers community norms, strength-based connection, and the four pillars of community.
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GROWTH: Six Steps for Framing Lasting Change
Take the lead in change. This course walks you through six steps—from building vision to sustaining momentum—so your efforts truly stick and meaningful culture change becomes possible.
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LeaderSHIFTS: Transform Your Mindset to Transform Your Organization
Ready to lead differently? This course equips you to reset your mindset, overcome resistance and imposter syndrome, and create an empowered culture of person-directed care.
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