Life Enrichment Director Continues to Build Her Path

Melody Whipple’s path to becoming the Life Enrichment Director at the skilled nursing center, Monroe Health Services, began with her own education. She received a BS in Secondary Education from UW Platteville in 1983 and hasn’t stopped learning since. Melody started work as a substitute teacher for six years following college. She also took classes in Gerontology at UW Platteville, which at that time was a new offering, so they didn’t offer a minor in it quite yet.

After some time, Melody continued her education getting a certification from MEPAP1 and 2. She started her career in long-term care as a part-time office assistant in 2013, and moved to full-time two years later. Eventually, Melody felt a strong pull to further enriching the lives of the residents within her center, so she applied for the Activities Director position in 2018. She went on to become a member of NCCAP (National Certification of Activity Professionals), a member of SWAPA (Southern Wisconsin Activity Professionals Association) and a member of NAAP (National Association of Activity Professionals).

Melody is grateful to work for North Shore Healthcare and she appreciates them, “letting me broaden my horizons and continue my education by becoming a Life Enrichment Specialist. I encourage anyone who feels a calling to this career to take the MEPAP training and join the professional associations to gain insight and make connections.”

Melody’s advice to anyone wanting to get into this field is to “become a student of your residents.” She recommends the study of their likes and dislikes, their patterns, and just be willing to simply listen to them.