“Every Smile Makes a Difference” to the Life Enrichment team and the residents at Residences at Deer Creek. In honor of their special week, National Activities Professional Week, we asked our Life Enrichment team to help us understand more about their important role in our Mission of maximizing the quality of life for our residents. A common, heartwarming theme arose; the Life Enrichment team receives as much (if not more) from the residents each day as they give to them. Seeing the residents’ smile make a difference in their workdays!
Join us as we explore some simple Q & A’s with our energetic Life Enrichment Team.
Meet our Life Enrichment Team
Emily Aguilar is our Director of Life Enrichment. Emily worked with seniors for four years and is a Certified Recreational Therapist. Our amazing team of Life Enrichment Assistants include Deb who has worked with seniors for 32 years, Jackie who has spent 20 years working with senior, Louise has worked approximately six years and Cheryl is the rookie with one year of experience working with seniors.
Let’s hear directly from our cheerful Life Enrichment Team and learn more about their experience at Residences at Deer Creek.
Describe a difference you’ve seen with someone who was reluctant to join an activity, but you or a co-worker managed to get him/her to participate.
Emily described a new resident anxious about making friends. She cried out in fear and loneliness that she would not fit in, but once she started to come to activities she made a good group of friends. “It’s so nice to watch her plan daily activities with this group of friends, join them for meals, and just see her so genuinely happy.”
Deb said resident reluctance to join activities happens all the time. “Life Enrichment staff just need to be persistent. Once the resident comes to that first activity they realize they enjoy it and start participating more and more and find friends.”
Jackie agreed—“Once a new resident starts participating you see them form more friends and become more social.”
Louise added—“Once they start coming you see them start to open up and smile and laugh. They mimic your attitude so if you are positive and happy then they will follow.”
Cheryl describes how the reluctant will end up coming to an activity and sit refusing to participate. “But every once in a while you will see them tapping a foot to the music playing or they will answer a trivia question. It just makes me smile because you notice it and know they are receiving something from the activity.”
Staff’s Favorite Activity:
Emily enjoys the reminiscing. “It’s so important for the residents to reflect on all the success and happiness they’ve had in their lifetime. I also love hearing about all the life experiences they went through and I learn so many good life lessons for me to carry over to my generation.”
Deb likes anything with music. “Music triggers such a unique reaction from the residents. I have witnessed residents who are typically non-verbal sing a song, word-for-word from start to finish and it amazes me.”
Jackie: Jackie is partial to Morning Exercise because it keeps residents moving their bodies.
Louise: I like “Balloon Volleyball because it gets residents active and engages everyone, no matter their ability level and everyone can participate.”
Cheryl: I enjoy Balloon Tennis. “It can be adapted for all abilities so It’s nice seeing those who aren’t that mobile find ways to participate.”
What are our Seniors’ favorite activities?
Emily: Senior Living residents love Stop and Shop; Memory Care favorite is anything with music.
Deb: Adds BINGO and games for Senior Living; agrees with music for Memory Care.
Jackie: Senior Living residents love BINGO; music is the hit in Memory Care.
Louise: Adds Shut the Box as a Senior Living favorite; Memory Care likes Balloon volleyball and video exercise.
Cheryl: Agrees that Stop and shop is a Senior Living favorite and Balloon Tennis and music are big in Memory Care.
Recall a rewarding experience you’ve had with a resident.
Emily: Building close relationships and being there for them when their loved ones cannot; truly this is most rewarding part of this job, truly we become a part of each other’s extended family.
Deb: Agreed about relationships and recalls two residents in particular she thinks about constantly. Throughout their stay they would wait for me every morning. The minute they saw me walk in they would rush to the Activity Room happy and excited for whatever we had planned that day. It was rewarding to see them smile and know that I was the reason for that smile.
Jackie: Just making someone happy and seeing them smile—that’s always the goal!
Louise: There’s a resident who doesn’t very often get visitors so I really enjoy just sitting with her and holding her hand. She will tell me constantly how much she loves me and loves me being there. Something so little as sitting there with them can truly make a world of difference.
Cheryl: Just sitting and comforting residents by holding their hands through this new life experience they are going through is rewarding.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Emily: I love what I do! Life Enrichment is such a unique field and it has its challenges but we are the ones who get to bring the fun and happiness to residents’ everyday lives. Not everyone can say that about their profession.
Deb: I have always loved doing what I do and working with this population. It’s rewarding to provide happiness and joy in a time in their life that is usually very sad and difficult.
Jackie: I love learning about the resident’s life and hearing about all their experiences. I’ve learned some really cool things and working with this population has taught me a lot of good life lessons.
Louise: I love the people I work with and the residents. I gain as much from my job as I hope the residents do from me being there, it makes me feel good!
Cheryl: Sometimes this job is very hard or sad but it is also rewarding beyond words. We get to not only help the residents but also their families through difficult times.
