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You are here: Home / Archives for senior wellness

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

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

Explaining the WHY to the WHAT

May 5, 2017 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

sherlock-holmes-147255Have you ever planned a great program, only to be disappointed by low attendance?  This inevitably happens at times, even in the most active community.  But if this is a persistent challenge, consider how your programming is promoted.  Enrichment professionals wear many hats indeed – sales professional included – as much of the job is spent not just planning programs but promoting them.  For there can’t be a program, if no one attends.   When promoting, we must be sure to not only explain WHAT the program is — but WHY it is (or could be) of VALUE to the resident.

For example, let’s offer an Afternoon Improv Class.  There are two ways to promote it:

Afternoon Improvisational Class

We’ll learn to think on our feet and have fun while doing it!  Join us in the Great Room, Tuesdays at 2pm

– OR –

Afternoon Improvisational Class, Great Room, Tuesdays 2:00pm

A fundamental principle in improv is the “yes and” technique – where participants build on — or heighten — a suggestion.  NO isn’t allowed in improv as “no” stops the action… while “yes, and” allows participants to not only further the action but make it better.  It’s no wonder why improvisational workshops are a staple in the corporate world.  Numerous Fortune 500 companies offer and require employee participation in Improv classes because it develops cooperation, communication skills, and promotes innovation.  Join us in an afternoon improv class. We’ll learn to think on our feet, develop flexibility, and have fun while doing it!


If I were a resident, I might read the first example and keep on reading, with no intention of attending.  If I read the second example – that corporations require employees to participate, I might pause and consider, because now I can see and understand the value in attending.  And in understanding the value,  I’d be more enthusiastic about my community’s programming in general, simply because I understand the purpose of the offerings.

As humans, we constantly evaluate… we ask ourselves, “Why should I do this, what purpose does this serve me?“

At Ripe, we offer the WHY with all of our program ideas. We provide the benefits and the reasons why a resident should participate and in some cases, the risks in why not.  The best part — there’s no need to spend your precious time researching all the WHYS —  simply copy and paste ours into your own promotional materials.

Heck, start an Improv class, (if you haven’t already) and just copy and paste the example above!  We promise we won’t tell.  It’s as easy as that.

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

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