Today, Kevin Sage, life enrichment director for The Springs at Happy Valley, was recognized with the Enrichment of Life Award by the Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA) at its annual convention in Portland, Oregon. Every year, OHCA honors long-term care professionals in the state who demonstrate a commitment to quality care through their dedication to residents, staff, and the long-term care profession.
“Kevin takes the time to get to know the residents and staff on a personal level, and then taps into their talents to provide quality programming for the community,” Tim Watson, executive director of The Springs at Happy Valley, wrote in his nomination letter. “His leadership, creativity, and talent have contributed to the residents’ enjoyment of life.”
In the nomination, Watson went on to list multiple thoughtful and innovative programming undertaken by Sage, from the spontaneous “Day of a Thousand Water Balloons” (teams of residents threw water balloons from their balconies to buckets in the courtyard below), to the use of Chat GPT to narrate a recent scenic drive, to the much more involved World Kitchen tour (a monthly international destination theme, complete with customized passports and a menu takeover event).
“I am extremely honored to receive this recognition, which I believe represents the dedication and creativity of the entire life enrichment team,” Sage said. “We have the opportunity every day to create meaningful moments and inspire joy in the lives of residents. Being able to serve them in this chapter in their lives is a reward in itself.”
Sage has been life enrichment director since before The Springs at Happy Valley opened in January of this year. Prior to joining The Springs Living, Sage had more than two decades of multimedia and marketing experience, most recently as media director and caregiver at a senior living community in Tennessee.
The Springs Living
Based in McMinnville, Oregon, The Springs Living serves older adults in communities in Oregon, Montana, and Washington. Each community represents a unique combination of design, amenities, and services, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Since its founding in 1996, The Springs Living has been committed to innovating senior living by delivering quality service and fostering an enrichment culture to help residents, their families, and each other live life to its fullest.
