says doing so thoughtfully is more important than simply increasing the number.
puts different books on display, waters the plants, adds fresh flowers and introduces new residents to the space. After reading her newspaper, she leaves it in the library for someone else to enjoy.
An enriching moment, after all, can't be defined the same way for everyone.
“It's anything that brings someone joy,” Burrow said. That individualized focus has helped Cedarhurst expand from approximately 167,000 tracked enrichment opportunities in 2024 to 192,000 in 2025, with approximately 205,000 projected for 2026.
At Cedarhurst of Woodstock, it recently sounded like music.
After learning that new resident Karen Zmrhal had once been a choir director and missed playing the organ and piano, the team brought out a keyboard and invited her to play. Soon, Karen was making music again while other residents gathered to listen.
But for Burrow, success isn't found in a participation total.
“She was in heaven,” said Life Enrichment Director Dawn Haymond.
It's found when a resident says they love living at Cedarhurst because they have a role to play. It's in the relationships formed over meals, the conversations in the lobby and the resident who finds purpose by welcoming others, helping set up an activity or leading one themselves. “These are the moments I know that we have made a difference,” Burrow said. “We have provided something special to that resident that didn't fit in the typical box of scheduled group activities.”
The moment helped Karen feel more comfortable in her new home — and may only be the beginning. She has already talked about starting a choir at the community. At Cedarhurst of Dyer, resident George Young discovered an artistic talent that has grown into an opportunity to help others. Today, George creates art projects and portraits while also leading art groups and helping fellow residents with their own work. Those moments illustrate another important part of Cedarhurst's philosophy: Life Enrichment is for all — and created by all. It isn't solely the responsibility of a Life Enrichment Director. Executive Directors host activities each week, managers lead monthly programs, caregivers and concierge team members assist with evening activities and outings, and team members throughout the community build relationships through everyday conversations and interactions. Cedarhurst tracks those different forms of engagement — scheduled group programs, one-on-one experiences and independent activities — with a goal of helping every resident experience at least two enriching moments each week. Eventually, Cedarhurst hopes to increase that goal to four, but Burrow
Because a full calendar can offer plenty of things to do.
A life enriched is about discovering what matters to the person living it.
CEDARHURST SENIOR LIVING | FALL FLOURISH 2026 21
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