Artis Senior Living Launches “The Power of Play” – A Yearlong Initiative Advancing Multisensory Engagement, Science, and Connection in Memory Care

McLean, VA – December 2025 – Artis Senior Living announced the launch of The Power of Play, a yearlong engagement initiative designed to elevate wellbeing, connection, and daily joy for residents living with dementia across its 26 memory care communities nationwide.

Developed in collaboration with Customer Experience Architect and Senior Living Expert Regan Atkinson with Aviam Design, The Power of Play translates neuroscience, sensory research, and human-centered design into practical, repeatable programming embedded into daily community life. The initiative equips associates, families, and residents with shared experiences that support emotional regulation, memory, and meaningful connection.

Each month of 2026 introduces a new dimension of play, ranging from music and movement to sensory exploration, creative expression, and occupational play – all delivered through Artis’ Life Enrichment and programming with hands-on family participation.

The Science Behind Multisensory Play

Decades of research in cognitive neuroscience demonstrate that multisensory engagement supports multiple dimensions of wellbeing for individuals living with dementia. Controlled clinical trials show that structured multisensory stimulation significantly reduces behavioral and psychological symptoms among adults with dementia (Martínez-Arnau et al., 2022).

Activities that integrate sound, touch, movement, light, aroma, and taste activate neural networks associated with emotional regulation, attention, memory, and social connection. Research links multisensory and play-based stimulation to:

Reduced agitation and anxiety

Improved mood and positive affect

Increased engagement and social interaction

Support for communication and behavioral regulation

Studies of enriched environments further indicate that the brain continues responding to meaningful sensory input throughout the lifespan, reinforcing that functional neuroplasticity remains possible even with cognitive impairment. Because procedural and emotional memory often remain accessible later in the dementia journey, multisensory play offers reliable pathways for comfort, expression, and connection (Ehret et al., 2022; Ahmed et al., 2025).

Designing Play Into Daily Life

“At Artis, our communities are intentionally designed to support multisensory engagement every day,” said Josh Krull, CEO of Artis Senior Living. “Through our collaboration with Regan Atkinson and Aviam, we built a platform that connects science, environment, and human experience – and then trained our teams to deliver it consistently. This work supports residents feeling grounded, connected, and fully themselves.”

Rather than isolated activities, The Power of Play is delivered through daily rhythms, associate training, and community spaces designed for engagement.

Multisensory, Relationship-Centered Programming

Signature Power of Play experiences for Artis include:

Artis Soundbite Café – Coming April 2026
A monthly multisensory series blending music, flavor, and storytelling to spark memory, conversation, and shared joy.

Artis Sensory Science
Hands-on STEM-inspired experiences developed through sensory exploration – encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and playful discovery using light, sound, texture, and cause-and-effect engagement.

Artis Helping Hands
Residents participate in familiar, purposeful roles tied to occupational memory – setting tables, watering plants, greeting visitors, and assisting with daily routines. These experiences restore confidence, identity, and belonging through meaningful contribution.

Artis Anytime Comfort Boxes
Personalized sensory collections created with residents and families, filled with textures, scents, photographs, and meaningful objects that offer comfort during transitions or moments of stress.

Family Co-Play Events
Monthly gatherings where residents and families create together through collaborative art, seasonal baking, sensory exploration, hand massage, and movement – strengthening connection through shared experience.

Wellbeing Through Play – For Everyone

Associates receive training on weaving multisensory engagement into daily care routines, transforming quiet or stressful moments into opportunities for grounding and connection. Monthly Power of Play training posters and in-service education reinforce teamwork, creativity, and Inspired Well-Being across each community.

“Our associates are central to the success of this work,” said Krull. “When care is delivered with curiosity, compassion, and playfulness, the resident and associate experience shifts – and dignity, joy, and belonging follow.”

Research suggests that sensory-rich environments can lower cortisol levels, elevate positive emotion, and activate neural pathways tied to memory, attention, and social engagement. The Power of Play translates this evidence into experiences that feel natural, meaningful, and deeply human.

About Artis Senior Living

Artis Senior Living is an east-coast leader in person-centered memory care, operating 26 communities across the United States dedicated exclusively to individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Since 2012, Artis has supported more than 5,200 families along the dementia journey.

To learn more about The Power of Play or find an Artis community near you, visit ArtisSeniorLiving.com.

About Aviam
Aviam is a transformational design firm that partners with senior living, hospitality, technology and mission-driven organizations to design smarter operations, integrated technology stacks, and human-centered experiences that perform in the real world.

To learn more about The Power of Play or find an Artis community near you, visit ArtisSeniorLiving.com.