The Wesley Community today announced a partnership with nationally recognized consultant Barbara Speedling to assist in enhancing life enrichment programming for the more than 700 seniors who reside on the 37-acre campus in Saratoga Springs.
Speedling will consult with Wesley’s Life Enrichment team for the next three months to focus on developing new and innovative quality-of-life programming for residents. Speedling has more than three decades of experience working with senior living communities in this capacity.
“Wesley is excited to partner with Barbara Speedling, whose insightful and engaging life enrichment programs have proven effective in addressing the physical, emotional and psychosocial needs of senior residents,” said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “We look forward to working with Barbara to make life enrichment an even more engaging, purposeful and personalized part of the everyday experience here at Wesley.”
An inspirational and motivational speaker, Speedling is an author, educator and management consultant at the forefront of person-centered care. In addition to her degree in healthcare administration, Speedling is an accomplished musician and artist who utilizes those talents to develop new and creative ways of working with her clients.
Speedling recently garnered the 2026 National Education Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), for her extraordinary impact as an educator dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in long-term care.
“It is my pleasure to work with The Wesley Community to enhance the life-enrichment goals for its residents,” said Speedling. “Throughout my career, I have seen evidence of how person-centered care can flourish in a long-term care facility and am eager to share these best practices with the Wesley leadership team.”
The partnership with Speedling will run parallel with Wesley’s intent to recruit and incorporate a Certified Occupation Therapy Assistant (COTA) to serve as director of its Life Enrichment Team. The new position is intended to bring an added therapeutic perspective to programming designed to help connect meaningful activities with residents’ individual goals and interests.
Founded in 1972, The Wesley Community was established as a long-term senior care community and has steadily grown into a continuum-of-care campus featuring independent and assisted living apartments, compassionate skilled nursing and memory-care services.
For more information about The Wesley Community visit www.thewesleycommunity.org/.