Life Enrichment Directors Go Beyond the Ordinary in Senior Living

Beyond the Ordinary, this year’s theme for Activity Professionals Week, perfectly captures the heart of our life enrichment directors and the work they do every day in our senior living communities.

Organized by the National Association of Activity Professionals, this week spotlights life enrichment teams and the meaningful impact they have on the quality of seniors’ lives. Their work reflects a truly holistic approach to well-being. Their activities and events are thoughtfully crafted to foster connection and support mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

As we celebrate Activity Professionals Week, get to know two of our dedicated life enrichment directors at Areté Living.

Meet our featured life enrichment directors

Adam Roes is the Life Enrichment Director at Gilman Grove assisted living in Oregon City, Oregon, where he’s served seniors for over a year. He is also a member of Areté Living’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Community Pillar, as he supports projects and initiatives to enhance belonging across the organization and develop strong professional partnerships in the greater community.

Laurie Mespelt is a Life Enrichment Director in Avamere at Seaside’s memory care community in Seaside, Oregon. She’s served at Avamere for 10 months, where she plans thoughtful activities personalized for seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

What does "Beyond the Ordinary" look like in your approach to life enrichment?

Adam:

Beyond the Ordinary means creating life enrichment that is built entirely around what makes our community unique. Our programs come directly from the residents, their families, and the passions and connections of our team, which makes every experience authentic and impossible to replicate anywhere else.

By truly connecting with residents and the team on a personal level and highlighting what they bring to the table, life enrichment becomes more than activities — it becomes a reflection of the people who call this community home.

Laurie:

I go out of my “box” for what is expected in my position. I help residents going to and coming from the dining room to help with the caregiver’s time. I check on residents in their rooms when we don’t see them out for a while. I stop what I am currently working on to walk with a resident if they are experiencing a rough patch in the moment of time.

I do Bingo when a certain resident needs to shower. It acts as the “carrot dangling.” She loves Bingo and will shower knowing she can come out and play Bingo. Communication with the caregivers always so I can help them get their breaks and know a game or entertainment has their attention.

Share a favorite activity you've organized and what made it special for your residents.

Adam:

One of my favorite activities I’ve organized was an Art Heist Mystery Party titled “Todda Lisa,” where residents and team members participated as actors in a “micro-TV” series for social media. Residents and team members then worked together to solve a playful art theft, watching each episode, following clues, and actively participating in the mystery.

What made this activity "Beyond the Ordinary" was the depth of detail and attention that went into the project. While many communities host mystery parties, dedicating an entire month to writing, producing, and filming a “TV show” that residents, families, and staff could all enjoy was uniquely ours. It celebrated the humor, creativity, and connection that make our community feel like home.

Laurie:

This is our morning all week. I’ve kept the consistency. We start at 10 a.m., gathering in the dining room for coffee/tea and snack time. My group’s generation loves classic rock. We have the music playing and guessing what band or singer is singing, and often all will be singing. They love the gathering over coffee (decaf) and feel “grown up” sitting and chatting as if in a coffee shop or at home.

Share an experience with a resident that reminded you why life enrichment matters.

Laurie:

I have been using animal Bingo cards before we play regular Bingo. I will show a picture of an animal, and they find it on the card. I also do a game where I ask them to throw out a movie star’s name, and I look it up and read all about the person. It leads to “Oh I loved that movie they were in” or talk of the career.

How do you personalize engagement to honor residents’ life stories, passions, and abilities?

Laurie:

We do daily trivia. I look up “On this Day in History” and read what took place around the world on this date. I have a gentleman who is excellent with his history and talks about the subject and often beats me to the end. I have an LED light-up clock with date and day, and he writes the day and date on his palm, so when I ask “Does anyone know today’s date and time?” he wants to be the first to answer.

I play beach ball surprise. I toss the ball to one resident, and I say a color. They must answer the question listed on the color. I have questions that evoke feelings, childhood, and passions. Where was your favorite place to live? What’s your favorite food? What did you like to do when you were growing up?

How do you continue to evolve your program to engage residents and offer meaningful experiences?

Laurie:

I have a bag of half-finished song phrases; I say the phrase and it’s up to the resident to come up with the song. I have two gentlemen who always finish in a song, and as it goes on, others follow. The bag of lines has never gotten old, and thus far we pull it out every other week at least. One of the gentlemen plays a harmonica and will often break out into a tune when he recognizes the song.

I have made several PowerPoint presentations to evoke memories, and it has led to discussions of those memories before moving on to the next picture. I have a presentation on shoes, I have one picture of cowboy boots, another on high heels, and another of Adidas. I also have a PowerPoint presentation of brand logos. I will pop up a McDonald's sign, and they shout out what it is, or most recently car logos. They love name that occupation. I will have a picture of waitress, a bartender, and so on.

Adam:

Our programming evolves naturally as our community grows and changes. Every new resident brings their own story, interests, and personality — and that uniqueness impacts the entire community, much like systems therapy suggests. As my team and I get to know new residents and continue learning more about those who have been here longer, our activity calendar shifts each month to reflect who the community is in that moment.

By staying connected, listening closely, and adapting based on what residents are excited about, we keep our programs meaningful, engaging, and truly reflective of the people who live here.

Thank you to our life enrichment teams

Thank you to our life enrichment teams for the joy and meaningful moments you bring to our seniors’ lives. Your work makes a true impact on their quality of life. We appreciate you!