Stefanie Murray, Assistant Director and Recreation Program Manager at Victorian Assisted Living, took a most unusual career path to make her way to Broad Reach.

Born and raised in Chatham, while in college in New Hampshire she explored meteorology, thinking maybe she would become a “storm chaser.” Instead she made her way back to the Cape and work in an office environment for 10 years, while becoming choir director for her church.

“That’s when I realized how much I love working with older people, because many of the people in the choir were in their 80s and 90s,” she recalls.

That led to a job as director of activities for an assisted living facility in Brewster that has since closed. And from there, she came to Broad Reach in 2019 to help build an activities program that runs from morning until after supper most days.

Devotional time in the morning often leads into exercise classes that in turn can lead to van rides, documentary movies, museum trips, community service, lunch-and-learn. The schedule moves between physical, social, and mental, something for everyone. “And yes, there is Bingo,” she smiles, “but it’s far from just Bingo.”

She tries to plan days, weeks, even months ahead, and many residents appreciate continuity and a routine. But of course that can’t always happen. “We were supposed to go on a picnic today,” she says, “but look at the weather!”

“There might be a misconception about assisted living,” she continues. “There is actually a lot of freedom. Some residents are still driving, for example. My feeling is that this is their home and we just work in it. We’re here to help people be independent, but they have the right to choose to participate, or choose not to. This is a place of comfort.”

The Victorian has room for about 40 people in their own apartments. Stefanie’s dual roles as assistant manager (promoted in 2020) and activities director means she gets to know everyone, “and they get to know me,” she adds. “They know my kids, I know their kids. It becomes a family setting. You know what it’s like? It’s like I have a lot of grandparents.”

Her goal is not about a specific number of activities or participants per day. “Our goal,” she concludes, “is to make meaningful memories here.”