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You are here: Home / Archives for lifestyle director

Who’s Got Your Back?

October 18, 2018 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

life preserver on wooden backgroundAn enrichment professional wears a thousand hats.

Not only are we responsible for the daily duties and demands outlined in our job description but we often find ourselves in the roles of confidant, companion, counselor, friend (sometimes foe) to our residents and their families. These relationships are of course what drive us to do what we do. It is within these relationships we find connection, meaning, and purpose – knowing we have helped the lives of each other(s).

That said, there is often a mounting stress associated with enrichment professionals – because we constantly have to come up with the newest and greatest program day after day, week after week, month after month.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: enrichment director, independent living activities, independent living events, independent living programs, lifestyle director, senior activities, senior enrichment, senior enrichment activities, senior enrichment programs, senior living, senior living activities, senior living enrichment programs, senior living programs, senior wellness, senior wellness activities, senior wellness programs, seniors

Is Your Community At Risk of an Energy Crisis?

October 7, 2018 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

I worked at a senior living community that was gorgeous.  From the architecture to interior design to landscaping, the property was lovely.   Although each visitor and guest commented on the luxurious setting, there was one observation, one comment that always made me feel the most proud.  When the remarks first began I thought “oh how nice”.  But then I noticed these comments were becoming status quo (if not the first thing people said, certainly the last).

What was it!?  ENERGY.

OK… I promise not to get too meta here.  But, yes… people were always commenting on the energy, the feeling they felt while in the community. What a “special” place it was, how good it felt to be there.   It’s true, there was a certain energy happening there.

Have you ever noticed when you walk onto a college campus (and it can be any campus, anywhere) there is a distinct energy automatically felt?  The sense that anything can happen, anything is possible.  It’s not just college campuses, certain companies and homes have it too.

So what is this energy? Where does it come from? How do we get it?  I’ve spent time trying to connect the dots and I think it all comes down to stimulation.  When minds are highly stimulated and engaged, the “sense of possibility” inevitably comes too.  Thus, the energy vibrations are raised.   Stimulation and engagement delivers deep satisfaction, euphoria even.

I was so proud to hear visitor’s comments on the energy they felt in our community because I knew I had a major part in creating that energy… that stimulation and sense of possibility.

It is thru the programming and daily activities of a community that we create a stimulating and engaging environment, which in turn creates THAT energy. But to do this, the programming and daily operational activities simply can’t be expected, routine, vanilla, same old-same old, day after day after day.

Just as on a college campus, senior living programs should push some boundaries and comfort zones. Programs should challenge residents (and team members) in what they thought they were capable of, and expand and open minds, allowing for true growth and engagement.

I encourage you to stop and take a minute to check the energy levels in your community.

To learn more about energy in the workplace I invite you to visit https://www.zingtrain.com/content/creating-good-energy and to learn more about creating a contagious culture please visit http://www.anesecavanaugh.com/  You’ll be glad you did.  Promise.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: activity director, enrichment professional, independent living activities, independent living events, independent living programs, lifestyle director, retirement community activities, retirement community programs, senior activities, senior enrichment, senior living director, senior programming, senior wellness activities, senior wellness programs

Taking Chances: When a Program Bombs

August 14, 2018 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

five red and white diceWe’ve all been there.

That time you painstakingly planned the perfect event only to watch it take a turn for the worse, spiral completely out of your control and bomb – leaving your residents disgusted, baffled, or the absolute worst – just plain gone – GASP – a room of empty chairs.

Oh, the war stories I could tell.

From foul-mouthed comedians to seemingly normal presenters turned crazy conspiracy theorists, to over-imbibed entertainers – I can honestly say not much surprises me anymore. (Keep in mind, I live in Austin – and we do our best to keep it weird).

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: enrichment director, independent living activities, independent living events, independet living events, lifestyle director, retirement community activities, senior activities, senior enrichment, senior enrichment activities, senior enrichment programs, senior living, senior living activities, senior living enrichment activities, senior living enrichment programs, senior living programs, senior wellness, senior wellness activities, senior wellness programs

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