Life Enrichment in Senior Living: More Than Activities

Celebrating National Activity Professionals Week at Saint Therese

Every day at Saint Therese, Life Enrichment professionals are part of each community’s care team, helping transform senior living from a place to live into a place to truly belong. During National Activity Professionals Week, we recognize the creativity, compassion, and dedication they bring to residents and communities across Saint Therese.

While their work often happens quietly in the background, Life Enrichment professionals play an essential role in shaping daily life, connection, and a sense of belonging in senior living.

More Than Activities, Meaningful Moments

Life Enrichment professionals bring energy, creativity, and connection into everyday life in senior living. They take the time to get to know residents as individuals and create experiences that spark joy, encourage friendships, and give each day meaning.

For people considering senior living, especially those who may find it harder to get out on their own due to weather, mobility, or health challenges, Life Enrichment can be a powerful reassurance. Life does not slow down or shrink. Instead, it often opens up, offering many opportunities to stay active, social, and connected, all just steps from home.

Building Community, One Connection at a Time

Executive directors across Saint Therese communities in Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio see firsthand how Life Enrichment shapes daily life and strengthens community.

At Saint Therese of Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park, Minn., Executive Director Christine DeLander recalls an experience that captures the heart of Life Enrichment: “One example that stays with me is watching a Life Enrichment staff member dance with a 100-year-old resident in Memory Care. The resident smiled throughout the song, not just because of the music, but because of the genuine connection and presence shared during that time.”

At Saint Therese - St. Mary of the Woods in Avon, Ohio, Executive Director Michael Helco describes Life Enrichment as essential to the rhythm of daily life on campus. “Life Enrichment fuels the campus. When you have a robust program, residents are active, engaged, and socially connected. It’s a beautiful thing walking down a hallway and seeing residents participating and enjoying one another.”

That sense of energy and belonging grows when residents are encouraged to share their own interests, with Life Enrichment team members helping bring those ideas to life.

Supporting the Whole Person

Life Enrichment supports residents far beyond scheduled events. At Saint Therese of Westlake in Westlake, Ohio, Executive Director Stephanie Gasper notes that through music, games, gentle exercise, social gatherings, and everyday interactions, residents have opportunities to feel calmer, happier, and more connected. Families often notice the difference, seeing their loved ones smiling more and enjoying a better quality of life.

At Saint Therese of Woodbury in Woodbury, Minn., Executive Director Tony Keelin emphasizes how Life Enrichment brings people together while also supporting individual interests. Whether through group activities or one-on-one connections, these interactions help build friendships and enhance daily life.

On any given week, residents may choose from music and dancing, faith-based gatherings, outings into the community, creative arts, games, discussion groups, gentle exercise, or simply time to connect with neighbors over coffee. Life Enrichment teams make sure there is always something to look forward to, with the freedom for residents to participate as much or as little as they wish.

Living the Saint Therese Way

At its core, Life Enrichment is a key part of the Saint Therese Way Resident Experience, our commitment to creating an enriching and fulfilling journey where residents feel supported, valued, and empowered to live well throughout every stage of life.

During National Activity Professionals Week, we recognize the Life Enrichment teams who help shape daily life at Saint Therese. Their work is reflected not only in full calendars, but in the connections, routines, and shared experiences that make our communities feel like home.

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