Known as senior living’s Ambassador of Play, Jessica Daily talks about the value of finding more opportunities for joy, laughter, and fun. She also discusses career opportunities and the progression of her profession from activities and recreation to programs and experiences.

About Jessica

Jessica Daily is the National Director of Resident Programs for Senior Lifestyle Corporation, a senior living management company based in Chicago IL. Jessica pursued circus arts and clowning for much of her youth. When she enrolled in the recreation program at SUNY Cortland, she disovered she could combine her love of the outdoors and passion for bringing joy to others.  She earned a BSE degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies in 2001. She began her career as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in a skilled care setting.

She then spent 14 years at Walden Place, an assisted living community: 10 years as Director of Resident Programs, 4 years as Sales and Marketing Director.  In 2017 Jessica transitioned from Walden Place to the management company of Senior Lifestyle in a position of Divisional Director of Memory Care and Programming and was promoted to her current position in February of 2019.

Jessica is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, and graduate of the ICAA Leader in Wellness Management Program (2019).  She has been leading programs for older adults for 18years.  Jessica enjoys bringing purpose, passion and a sense of playfulness to programming for people of all ages.

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