Beyond the Activity Calendar: What Experiential Living Really Means

Aug 17, Alissa Sauer

John Sager, resident at The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing, had already taken a hot-air balloon ride. Next on his list was skydiving.

When the day came, he did not go alone. Team members from The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing climbed into the plane with him, while other residents traveled with the group to cheer from the ground. By the time everyone returned home, the jump belonged to the whole community. “I am so thrilled to be able to do things like this,” John said afterward.

That is experiential living in its most dramatic form. The phrase “experiential living” sounds nice, but what does it actually mean?

Experiential living is a resident-directed approach to senior living where programs, services, and daily opportunities reflect each person’s interests, goals, abilities, and life experience.

At The Ackerly, it all begins with staff paying attention to what residents enjoy, miss, or still hope to try. From there, an idea has room to become part of life.

A Resident-Directed Activity Calendar

Today’s senior living communities offer a robust calendar of daily activities. Experiential living asks a different, better question: Do those activities actually reflect the people who live there?

The program calendar at The Ackerly often grows out of conversation. When a resident talks about a hobby that once filled their weekends, the program team listens and looks for a way to bring that interest into the calendar. As those activities become incorporated in community life, residents recognize their own interests in the life around them, which makes participating feel natural.

Our residents don’t just attend; they contribute. They may lead a discussion, teach a craft, welcome a new neighbor, volunteer for a local cause, or help plan the next excursion. Their histories, abilities, and ideas become part of community life and create strong connections.

Strengthening Community Connections

Aside from the fun, there is a practical reason to create more opportunities for connection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that strong social ties can support longer, healthier lives and are associated with better sleep, healthier habits, and improved well-being. The National Institute on Aging also notes that hobbies and social activities may offer health benefits as people grow older.

At The Ackerly, the practical benefit is visible every day: people are more likely to join a walk when a friend is waiting, and meals are more enjoyable in good company. Simply put, well-being is easier done when you’re living well. When a community embraces experiential living, residents find that strength may mean feeling confident on a day trip, better balance may make gardening more comfortable, and endurance might help a resident keep up with grandchildren or walk through a favorite museum.

It’s a holistic approach that brings living well and well-being to life in an intentional way.

Looking for Experiential Living in a Senior Living Community

Amenities are easy to list, but culture takes a little more attention.

During a tour, look beyond the calendar and ask:

• How do residents influence the activity calendar?
• Can programs be adapted for different abilities and care needs?
• Are there chances to lead, teach, volunteer, or help plan events?
• What happens when a resident has an idea that is not already on the calendar?
• Do team members participate in community life and know what residents enjoy?

Listen to the answers, then watch what is happening around you. Are residents talking with one another? Do team members greet people by name? Does the atmosphere feel comfortable, or does it feel staged for visitors? The strongest clues are often found in ordinary interactions.

Stepping into a New Age of Senior Living

Today’s older adults are bringing high expectations to senior living, as they should. They want support when it is useful, freedom where it matters, and real chances to keep learning, connecting, contributing, and having fun.

Experiential living removes the friction that can gradually make life smaller. People, transportation, wellness, good food, new ideas, and help when needed are all close at hand while residents can spend less energy managing logistics and more energy living. Sometimes that leads to a cup of coffee with a new friend. Sometimes it leads to a parachute.

At The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing in Hillsboro, Oregon, independent living, assisted living, and memory care are built around the person, not a preset version of retirement or assumed limitations of a diagnosis.

Come meet the residents, explore the community, and see what the days can hold. Contact The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing to schedule a personal tour.