Activities director Kim DeGraw fosters engagement, enrichment and community at Sheridan Green House
At Sheridan Green House, Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s long-term care facility, staff provide individualized care, foster meaningful relationships, and create a home-like environment—all to enhance the lives of residents. Engaging activities tailored to each resident’s interests and needs play a vital role in this mission, helping maintain cognitive function, emotional well-being and physical health as they age. Research shows that social interaction and mentally stimulating activities can slow cognitive decline, reduce feelings of isolation and improve overall well-being. At Sheridan Green House, activities are more than just entertainment—they are essential for keeping residents engaged, connected and thriving.
One of the most popular programs is Opening Minds through Art (OMA), an evidence-based initiative designed for individuals living with dementia. In OMA, trained volunteers—such as students, family members or caregivers—pair with residents to help foster creativity by focusing on imagination rather than memory. This program not only empowers residents to explore their artistic abilities but also encourages them to take on new roles as artists and teachers, creating a meaningful legacy of artwork.
In addition to OMA, traditional games like Yahtzee and Dominos have become favorites among residents, with regular gatherings for friendly matches. Family involvement is also a key element at Sheridan Green House, and staff actively encourage families to visit and spend quality time with their loved ones. Last Christmas, a cookie-decorating event brought families together for some festive fun, and upcoming events, such as family pizza nights, are in the works to further strengthen connections and deepen bonds between residents and their families.
Kim DeGraw, Sheridan Green House’s activities director, is the driving force behind these personalized individual and group activities. With a passion for creating meaningful engagement and improving life for residents, Kim’s background in education and her innovative approach to long-term care transform the experience for the residents she serves.
“Kim is such a great fit for this work,” said Tonya Carlson, executive director of Sheridan Green House. “She really understands the importance of life enrichment—really meeting people where they are and understanding what will add quality to their day-to-day lives. Of course, there are the parties and the big events, but she really pays extra attention to the more specific needs of the individuals that live here.”
Originally from northcentral Montana, Kim has spent much of her life balancing single motherhood with professional growth. She is the proud mother of two daughters—15-year-old Erykah and 9-year-old Abberdean—and has worked hard to build a solid foundation for them. Over the course of her career, Kim spent 15 years as a teacher and earned two master’s degrees—one in curriculum and instruction and another in management and leadership.
Kim’s move to Sheridan was both a personal and practical decision, as she saw the town as a great place for her children to grow up. Determined to secure a job before relocating, Kim discovered the activities director position at Sheridan Green House and recognized it as the perfect fit for her skills and educational background.
“With my master’s degrees in curriculum, management and leadership, it all just meshed,” she explained.
Under the guidance of Tonya Carlson, executive director of Sheridan Green House, Kim developed a deep appreciation for the elders at the facility and the impact of her work in helping them thrive.
“Tonya is an excellent administrator,” Kim said. “She’s a great fit for this facility because she’s incredibly patient and always willing to answer my questions with detailed explanations. It’s been wonderful to have someone so willing to educate me in so many different areas.”
Kim’s passion for dementia care, in particular, has grown significantly.
“I’ve fallen in love with caring for residents with dementia,” she says. “When people think of activities, they often picture birthday parties, games and fun all day. But if I could reclassify this department, I’d call it ‘Life Enrichment.’ You’re enriching these elders’ lives by offering personalized activities—whether it’s conversation, reminiscing or simply sitting with them.”
For Kim, connecting with residents, especially those with dementia, means stepping into their world.
“I’ve been coming in the last three nights to support a resident who needs a little extra care,” she shared. “We ‘built a fence’ across the living room together. We went mining. We went shopping for hats because he wanted a new one. It makes me feel like a kid again. It’s hard to put into words, but offering that compassion and being in their time—in their world—is so rewarding for me.”
When planning activities for all residents at Sheridan Green House, Kim emphasizes the importance of personalization. She regularly checks in with residents to ask what they would like to do and incorporates their preferences into the next activity schedule.
“I’ll go around and ask residents what they want to do and put it in my brain bank, and then I’ll try to put it on the next schedule,” she said. “Last month, a handful of ladies wanted to make jewelry, so I made sure to put that on this month’s schedule. I make sure to get my ideas from my residents. Sometimes I come up with activities that seem like they could be fun, and I’ll put it on the schedule and we give it a shot. Either the residents like it and we do it again, or it’s a flop and we move on to something else.”
One of the most successful large-group activities so far has been the winter carnival, where Kim and the Sheridan Green House staff brought traditionally outdoor games inside.
“It was a whole group effort,” Kim said. “Sabrina, our administrative coordinator, ran the cotton candy machine. We had games and popcorn. Everybody loved it! We’d love to do it again, maybe when the weather warms up, so we can take it outside next time.”
Looking ahead, Kim is eager to continue developing individualized activities for residents and further embrace the Green House model. Kim also hopes to continue strengthening family involvement and make Sheridan Green House a true extension of home for everyone involved.
“Once we get the word out about how Sheridan Green House is ran, we will not have an empty bed,” Kim said.
Sheridan Green House is comprised of four cottages, each with 12 rooms available for residents. If you or a loved one is considering long-term care, reach out to Sheridan Green House at 307.672.0600. For additional information, see sheridangreenhouse.org.