Gina Rice is a wellness leader with extensive experience in senior living and health services. As the Wellness Director at Kisco Senior Living, she oversees holistic wellness programs that support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of residents. Renowned for her compassionate approach and strong leadership, she leverages her background in nursing, fitness, and care coordination to improve the quality of life for older adults.
In an exclusive interview with Elder Care Review, she shared valuable insights into the challenges and effective solutions involved in delivering person-centered care within eldercare institutions.
Home, Community, and Connection
I lead a team of seven at our company in Greensboro, North Carolina, where we offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care for individuals who choose to live here for the remainder of their lives. The facility includes a broad spectrum of residents from people struggling with Parkinson’s disease to independent residents who still drive and control their finances.
With such a varied resident population, effective senior living management requires adaptability over uniformity. My focus is on person-centered care, and with the help of my team, not just our life enrichment staff but also our residents, we build that experience together.
My goal is to foster a community where meaningful relationships grow organically. We support residents as they begin a new chapter in a place that truly feels like home—a community that feels like family. Each of our three communities has its dedicated activity calendar, filled with outings, shopping trips, and travel opportunities.
We provide person-centered care to each resident with different likes and dislikes, which makes them feel accepted, and also entices them to choose us over many other senior living communities.
We also provide complimentary transportation to medical appointments, ensuring everyone has easy access to the care they need. Additionally, we offer a variety of programs designed to foster connection among residents. What truly matters is making residents feel that each activity is created with them in mind. They must have a voice and feel included.
Our staff plays a vital role in this process, not just by organizing programs, but by actively participating alongside residents. Their presence encourages engagement and helps residents understand the value of these shared experiences.
Overcoming the Silent Struggles
The two main challenges faced by residents adjusting to senior living. Mobility is a significant barrier, and cognitive impairment is another. We offer in-house therapy and teach live classes to support residents where they are, providing personalized support tailored to their needs. Instead of traditional workouts, we host things like indoor volleyball tournaments, ping pong, shuffleboard, and other low-pressure games. These activities are less intimidating than attending a gym class, where people often feel self-conscious.
We also have a walking club and frequently take trips to nearby parks and along a 15-mile greenway, tackling it one manageable stretch at a time. Encouragement, rewards, and variety help motivate them to keep going.
Travel is another significant part of our wellness offering. We take two overnight trips a year, typically lasting three to four nights each. Many residents want to travel but are limited by mobility or cognitive decline. With our wellness team present, we tailor everything to individual needs, choosing senior-friendly accommodations, ensuring elevator access, and providing personalized support to reduce stress and increase enjoyment.
Building Cross-Functional Teams
We have a well-rounded team comprising individuals with diverse skill sets. It starts with hiring the right people, those who are passionate and bring unique skills to the team. Once you have built a well-rounded team, it’s essential to give them the freedom to be creative and take initiative, while offering support behind the scenes.
For example, one of our team members once proposed hosting a prom for our memory care community. That was a significant challenge, but everyone came together to make it happen. The staff helped residents find dresses, made jewelry and boutonnieres, and even invited local ROTC students to dance with them. It was beautiful, and it all started from one team member’s vision that we supported and expanded.
Advice for New Wellness Leaders
They should be creative, but start small. Plan manageable, fun, and engaging programs, and enhance them over time. A good example is planning trips for residents, especially for those in memory care or with mobility challenges. If it’s your first time, don’t take 20 people. Start with six or eight. Learn the location, know where the bathrooms are, how long the walking paths are, and where the accessible entrances are. These are things most people don’t think about, but in senior living, those details make or break the experience. Don’t just hire outside artists or entertainers and leave. Stay engaged, learn from them, and eventually incorporate what you learn into your programming. That way, you reduce costs and build stronger connections with your residents.
Most of all, remember that it’s about the residents, helping them live their best life each day, in both big and small ways.
