Saluting our Life Enrichment Team Members During National Activity Professionals Week

January 23 through 29 is National Activity Professionals Week. At UMRC & Porter Hills, we know how important our Life Enrichment team members are to enhancing the care and well-being of the older adults we serve. It’s not just about physical health – the Five Dimensions of Health and Wellness, adapted from the Pan American Health Organization, include emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health as well. Life Enrichment activities provide opportunities for creative expression, discovering meaning and purpose in our lives, learning new skills, and making friends and building relationships. The National Association of Activity Professionals states, “As an Activity Professional, you are part of a vitally important profession that helps people live a life that is full of fun and meaningful activities…You are the heart and spirit of your communities.” Our residents would agree. Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) resident, Helen Brockmeier, says, “You can be creative no matter the number on your age. UMRC & Porter Hills is a great place to be and to keep looking for your purpose every day.” Activities like trips to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, exercise and fitness in the McMullen and Martindill Wellness Centers, arts classes and concerts, Bible study, creative writing, and much more, bring joy and meaning for those we serve and promote UMRC & Porter Hills’ mission of “welcoming all, partnering together, enriching lives.” Our Life Enrichment and Recreational Therapy team members, including volunteers, make these activities possible across the organization – from our residential communities to home- and community-based services like PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). “I greatly appreciate all the extras that the Life Enrichment teams provide,” says Karen Steinaway Bowen, daughter of CRC resident Kathryn Steinaway. “Mom loves all the special treats and activities, and I love hearing the laughter in her voice when she tells me about all you have done!” “When it comes to the well-being of the older adults we serve, Life Enrichment is truly at the heart of all we do, helping them find their purpose, follow their passions, and live life to the fullest,” says UMRC & Porter Hills President, Wendy Brightman. To learn more about how you can support Life Enrichment programming at UMRC & Porter Hills, visit https://foundation.mybrio.org/ or call 734.433.1000 ext. 7502 (east) or 616.577.2297 (west).