The simple act of cutting up a watermelon may not seem like much.
But one sunny afternoon, when Kym Serafino, Life Guidance Director at Atria Golden Creek, sliced a watermelon into wedges for a gathering of residents from three different Atria communities – something remarkable happened.
The residents, all of whom live with memory conditions, began sharing stories about past experiences enjoying watermelons. They discussed vivid memories involving summer picnics, a trip to Colorado and a watermelon eaten once during a thunderstorm.
Smiles spread and conversations flowed naturally. This was exactly the kind of moment Kym envisioned when she began inviting memory care residents from nearby Atria communities to spend time together.
“It sparked stories they hadn’t shared in a long time,” Kym says. “They started talking to each other about things they hadn’t talked about before.”
For Kym, moments like these are exactly why she keeps filling buses with residents and creating opportunities for connection.
Several times a year, residents from the Atria communities of Golden Creek, Del Sol, Newport Plaza and San Juan leave the familiarity of their own communities for something a little different. They gather to enjoy lunch, music, conversation and activities together. They sing, dance, laugh and make new connections. While the venues and themes change, the goal never does.
“We’re giving them a chance to socialize with people they don’t see every day,” Kym says. “It’s something different, and they absolutely love it.”
Planning an outing for dozens of residents living with dementia requires thoughtful coordination. Transportation, staffing, meals, activities and individual needs all have to come together safely and seamlessly. But Kym says every detail is worth it when she watches residents light up as they arrive and begin interacting with familiar faces from neighboring communities.
The gatherings have become so popular that as soon as one ends, residents start asking when the next one will be.
That desire to create meaningful experiences has guided Kym throughout her career. After the economic downturn in 2008 forced her to close her business, she found herself searching for a new direction. She walked into an Atria community in Southern California, feeling drawn to senior living but unsure where she belonged. A Life Guidance Director happened to notice her, invited her to share her story and encouraged her to join the memory care team.
“I just took off from there,” Kym says.
Although she later advanced into corporate leadership with another senior living company, she realized what she missed most was the everyday connection with residents. She returned to Atria community life because that’s where she found the greatest sense of purpose.
Today, that purpose can be seen in every outing she organizes.
For residents living with memory loss, the gatherings are about more than a meal or an afternoon away from home. They’re opportunities to laugh together, discover new friendships and reconnect with pieces of themselves through music, conversation and shared experiences.
Sometimes, all it takes is a slice of watermelon to remind someone of a lifetime of summers.
And that’s the kind of Uncommon Hospitality Kym works to create every day.