We asked Amy Koch, Executive Director at the Charles Ford Retirement Community of New Harmony, to give us a glimpse into the purpose of the Life Enrichment Program scheduled daily at the Charles Ford community. “To keep life active and exciting for our senior residents we need a vibrant Life Enrichment program,” Koch said. “In reality, each person decides for himself or herself what it means to live well. Our job is to layer creative energy with available resources, then, we inject teamwork to schedule activities that make vibrant living happen here”. If you visit during one of our many celebrations, you’ll notice there’s not a lot of distinction between the levels of participation when comparing staff members with residents. When these occasions occur, we encourage everyone to enjoy these daily events with our residents. Just like in a family, we want to live, learn, and have fun together.
“A solid Life Enrichment Program provides the greatest opportunity we have to make life worth living,” Koch explained. “When seniors get to the place where they need assistance and select the Charles Ford community as their home, they do so with the awareness that they are entering a different stage of life. Throughout their existence, they’ve lived in a world formed by relationships; they had a purpose with influence and identity. They come to us having experienced these beautiful journeys of hardships and victories, but often they feel a sense of deep loss. Together, we help them understand that the older and bolder stage they’re living in is just as important as all the other stages have been. We’re here to help them navigate life on a daily basis.”
So the question is just how is this accomplished? Koch believes that, first of all, you show love. “Love and respect in the community provide the opportunity for everyone to thrive. Staff members believe it’s a privilege to help each resident find a new sense of purpose and a reason to look forward. Sue Rose, our Life Enrichment Director, works with each member of the team to add vibrancy to this program’s effort. Looking over the monthly calendar, you find activities such as shopping with lunch out, regular exercise programs, the ever-popular Bingo, in-house movies, crafts sessions, painting tutorials, social hour, Spa Day, Bible study, Sunday church service, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and more, all planned with Sue’s masterful leadership for optimal resident and staff participation. In the future, Sue dreams of adding programs that will attract members of the community to join. Her list of possibilities includes a Tai Chi exercise program, Clabber, Bunco and Book clubs, a Gardening Club, and a Dessert and Coffee Club, among other ideas. “We believe the small size of our facility sets us apart from other senior communities,” Koch adds.
The capacity at the Ford home is approximately 30 residents. We provide stable staffing, and the 24-hour watchful eye of a nursing professional, as well as numerous other life-enriching amenities. We believe a broader awareness of this intimate home and family-like atmosphere extends a superior choice to those selecting assisted living. We know the Charles Ford Retirement Community is different, and living well isn’t something we do for our residents; it’s something we do with them. Experience it for yourself. Come join us on September 21 at the Charles Ford Retirement Community on South Main Street in New Harmony from 1:30 to 4 PM, as we celebrate the beginning of a new season. Our annual Fall Festival is a great demonstration of the fun we like to have.
