Sunrise Profiles
Meet Kristen Fairchild
Thanks to this realization, Kristen has not only changed the lives of scores of seniors, but also provided real comfort to their families. Kristen sought out a position at Sunrise of Galloway and soon was made life enrichment manager in its Reminiscence Neighborhood. This is a special community within Sunrise of Galloway that is dedicated to involving residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other related memory impairments in a round of daily activities that help them feel valued and provide a sense of purpose. Making Lives Meaningful Kristen quickly showed herself to have a knack for programming events with a special touch. When the daughter of a resident offered to host a pool party at her farm, Kristen made the arrangements. She even found bathing suits for the residents, many of whom hadn’t gone swimming for years. For another occasion, residents were important participants in the memorial service she planned for September 11. They wrote the names of loved ones who had passed away on helium balloons, which they released at the end of the ceremony. But from Kristen’s point of view, daily interaction is even more important. Wherever Kristen goes, she asks a resident to come along to help, even if it’s just a trip to Starbuck’s for a cup of coffee. And because she knows each resident’s history, she selects the residents whose interests and experience best match the occasion. At the same time, she keeps a log of each resident encounter—even if it’s just a quick hug—to make sure that every resident receives her attention. Reaching Out to Families "I don’t really consider this a job," Kristen says. "I get so much joy from helping our residents and getting to know them and their families." She’s also learned new skills. Thanks to the instruction she had from a resident, she’s now crocheting a blanket. For her exceptional commitment to helping people with Alzheimer’s disease and other related memory impairments, Kristen was a 2009 recipient of the Joy in Service Award from Sunrise Senior Living. Life enrichment managers are new roles in Sunrise communities. They seek to help each resident living with memory loss to continue to live fulfilling lives and help the families of residents to maintain meaningful relationships with their loved ones as the memory loss continues. It is one of many ways Sunrise offers an exceptionally different senior living experience. Kristin offers some tips on how to retain a meaningful relationship with a senior living with Alzheimer’s disease. 
Kristen Fairchild has found her avocation. Two years ago, she had a firsthand glimpse of how many seniors with memory loss are treated when her grandmother developed a brain tumor. The experience changed her life. "In an institutional setting, it’s so easy for people who are already undergoing a tremendous hardship to lose their sense of purpose and dignity," she says. "It’s so important to have people reach out to you and show that they care." 
Kristen has also made a point of taking photographs of residents and sending them to family members with short notes. "I’m trying to help family members through the adjustment process and to reconnect them as closely as ever to their loved ones," she says. "Our family members are now very much involved."
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