Life Enhanced Spotlight: Ashley Frodsham

This month’s Life Enhanced Spotlight is Ashley Frodsham, Life Enrichment Coordinator with Avamere at Wenatchee.

Here’s what Ashley shares about her passion for service:

My name is Ashley Frodsham, and I have been working in the Life Enrichment Department at Avamere at Wenatchee for almost two years. Ever since I was very young, my mom, who is a nurse, always raised me with the ideal of “see a need, fill a need.” I love this job because it is everything I’ve been raised to do. I grew up in a close family household that always brought laughter and happiness. I love that I am able to bring togetherness and joy into my residents’ home. I love that I am able to facilitate activities that promote social, physical, and mental wellbeing; that builds friendships and a feeling of community within these walls.

By far, my favorite activities I offer are all of my fall prevention exercise programs. I have been certified in a Matter of Balance (M.O.B) and Stay Active Independent for Life (S.A.I.L), in addition to being the instructor of our new S3 Balance course. These programs top my favorite activities I facilitate because I am able to make a change for the better by working with my residents to promote physical, as well as mental health and the ability to reduce falls. So much so that within eight weeks of introducing the S.A.I.L. program, the participants in my program saw a cumulative 30% increase in strength, balance, and fitness.

Ashley’s team has glowing remarks about her! Here’s what they shared:

Ashley has been with Avamere about a year and a half, and this is really the perfect job for her. She is very outgoing with the residents, became a certified SAIL (Stay active and Independent for Life) exercise instructor, and has stepped up as an activities lead when our life enrichment director was out. She is smart, creative, and a problem-solver. She is always looking for new way to “put some play in their day.” Everybody here loves Ashley, and we look forward to working with her every day.

Kevin Fortier, Director of Sales and Outreach

Ashley is energetic, positive, and brings an abundant amount of creativity to our team and culture here at Avamere at Wenatchee. She is always willing to jump in to help other departments when needed, while also carrying her own department. She is quick to help our residents and has taken our Life Enrichment Department to a higher level. With the SAIL program and Matter of Balance, our residents have become more physically active and are able to be more independent than before.

Jessica Riches, Business Office Manager

Ashley has always had such a positive impact on our residents and staff. She ensures that residents are participating in activities and not isolating. She has added great activities that were not available before such as nail painting, new clubs, and many social events. The performers she has brought into this building have been very good and even throughout the winter months and the pandemic, it has had such an amazing impact on the residents' demeaner. When things need to shut down due to illness, Ashley has gone room to room to offer personal exercises and activity sheets. I enjoy working with her and seeing the smiles she leaves on residents' faces.

Chelsea, Resident Care Coordinator

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