ASK AMY KOCH
A monthly column from the Executive Director of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony
How Life Enrichment Programming Helps Residents Live Well
We asked Amy Koch, Executive Director at the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony, to tell us how a vibrant Life Enrichment Program serves to enhance the daily lives of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities’ residents.
She explains, “We like to dream with our residents to create new and exciting experiences, so I would suggest that Life Enrichment is hands down THE most important thing in our culture at the Ford community, and each member of our team shares this philosophy. Quite simply “living well” is so much more important than just living.
“We believe each person’s Spirit is timeless. Each person decides for themselves what “living well” means to them. Our job then is to layer in our creative energy, expertise, available resources and teamwork to make vibrant living happen.
“You might notice there’s not a tremendous amount of distinction between residents and team members when it comes to significant life celebrations in our community. Life Enrichment isn’t something we do for our residents; it’s something we all do together.
“We look at the Life Enrichment Program as the greatest opportunity we have to make life worth living. When seniors get to the place where they need assistance, and walk through the doors to assisted living, they do so with the awareness that they are entering a stage of life that can feel powerless. Throughout their lives they’ve created a world around them that formed their sphere of influence, purpose, and identity. They come with their beautiful journeys of hardships and victories, but often there is a sense of loss and an identity crisis when residents enter the later stages of life. This stage is just as important and necessary as all the other seasons in life and can be the most challenging to navigate.
“So how do you enrich the life of someone who believes they’ve lost everything they worked hard for and enjoyed? You love them…love conquers all. This is where we get the greatest opportunity. We get to come into the lives of our residents at a time when they need a sense of purpose and compassion the most.
“We firmly believe that if residents have engaging and enriching activities to fill their days, they benefit greatly in their physical health. We have seen first hand a decrease in falls and “as-needed” medication for anxiety or other ailments, when residents become a part of our community and are engaged in a life-giving Life Enrichment Program.
“It has been proven that mental, social, and physical activities are crucial to overall senior wellness. So we plan social events to include resident’s favorite games, happy hours, seasonal parties, and birthday parties. We have crafts once a week for residents who love to create or express themselves through art. Staying physically active is important, also, so we offer a variety of exercises to fit the needs and capabilities of residents. Staying mentally strong is essential in the aging process so we always have a puzzle of some sort going, games to keep the mind sharp and reminiscing groups. And then there’s Tech Time With Seniors – this program teaches residents how to connect with current technology.
“Obviously, a vibrant lifestyle for seniors requires creativity and fluidity. It involves a program that readily changes to adapt to residents as they experience new seasons in their life while continuing to look for growth opportunities.
“A specific passion in our Life Enrichment Department is to help residents connect, emotionally, to where they are in this season of life and to guide them to reach the desires of their heart in the years they have left. This emotional component is important because it helps them fulfill their life goals, find closure, and leave the desired legacy.”
