Meet Jessica Saenz, our Lifestyle Director at Adante Assisted Living and Memory Care. She’s been with the community for eight years and was originally hired as a Concierge in April 2013 and was promoted to Lifestyle Director in May 2014. While working on her Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology at Texas State University, Jessica took several courses in aging and gerontology and completed an internship at a senior living community. It was there that her passion for seniors truly took off.
“Once I completed my internship, I knew I had found my passion. It was always there!” said Jessica. “I had the great privilege to grow up with three great grandparents and four grandparents. My parents instilled the value of service and kindness, especially when it came to caring for the seniors in my life who I lovingly call ‘my grands.’”
Jessica’s job is to plan and create engaging programs, activities and events to enrich the lives of our Assisted Living and Memory Care residents. Lifestyle Directors are called to be creative, high-energy leaders with a compassionate heart. As Adante Senior Living is known for their vibrant lifestyle events, anyone who knows Jessica knows that she embodies all of these qualities while always putting our residents first. Whether it’s tropical happy hours, glow parties or baseball opening day celebrations, Adante always brings the fun!
When planning events, Jessica and her team typically work off of national holidays and think of ways to celebrate in ways that are youthful and not like the norm. For example, when planning National Tequila Day, her team decided to turn this single day into a series of events called Destination: Mexico. This lively series featured a chef food demo with tableside guacamole, a margarita Monday social and a history of the Agave plant with tequila tastings for residents to sample.
When asked what her favorite part of the job is, it’s simple to Jessica. “The residents!” she said. “I love learning their stories and bringing unique programs to our calendar that pique their interests. We like to use the phrase, ‘living the Adante life’ because it showcases the vibrancy of our seniors. This isn’t the end of their life, it’s just the next chapter. How can our community make their days most enjoyable? That’s the challenge we choose to accept each day.”
For Jessica, that challenge has become a family affair. Her brother Thaddeus also works for Adante Senior Living as a Lifestyles Assistant in Independent Living. He started his journey at the community as a server in December 2018, then became a concierge and was then promoted to Lifestyles Assistant in November 2020.
We’re so blessed to have Jessica as part of the Sagora Senior Living family and continue to be amazed by her dedication to our residents and providing an atmosphere where they are celebrated, welcome and like family.
Are you interested in having a career where you make a difference in the lives of seniors? Check out our open opportunities at Jobs.Sagora.com. With job opportunities in 44 multi-state senior living communities, we’reconfident that you’ll find the perfect fit for you. What’s more, our full-time associates enjoy perks such as paid time off, 401K and health insurance.
Ready to start your career journey? Apply today!
