Waves of Joy: Liberty Senior Living and Ocean Cure Bring the Beach Within Reach

For many, the beach is more than a destination. It’s a place tied to peace, joy, and treasured memories. But over time, it can become harder to access. That’s what makes Liberty Senior Living’s Annual Beach Day so meaningful.

Held on June 12, 2025, at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Access, this year’s event brought together nearly 100 residents, including those from independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, for a day of surf, sunshine, and celebration.

For the first time, a Liberty community from outside the Wilmington area joined in on the event. In addition to Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall and Brightmore of Wilmington, residents from The Templeton of Cary traveled to Wilmington to participate. This is a milestone in the growth of what has become a signature Liberty Senior Living tradition.

The annual Beach Day event is made possible through Liberty Senior Living’s powerful partnership with Ocean Cure.

A Carolina Beach-based nonprofit, Ocean Cure is dedicated to making the coast accessible for everyone. Through mobility mats, accessible flooring, beach wheelchairs, adaptive surfboards, and a team of trained, compassionate volunteers, they help ensure that individuals of all abilities can safely and fully enjoy the beach.

“For people who’ve always loved the ocean, stepping away from it can happen gradually, until one day, it feels just out of reach,” said Haley Kinne-Norris, INSPIRE Wellness and Enrichment Coordinator for Liberty Senior Living. “This event gives that back.”

Team members, family members, and approximately 75 volunteers, including some from Liberty’s corporate headquarters, participated in this year’s joyous event.

Attendees enjoyed everything the beach has to offer including beach walks, shell collecting, music, games, and for those who wanted it, surfing. Some residents who had either never tried it before, or hadn’t done it in years, decided to ride a wave. For others, simply dipping their toes in the water was deeply meaningful.

“There were tears of joy,” Kinne-Norris shared. “These aren’t just fun activities. They’re moments that reconnect people with something they love.”

Thanks to Liberty’s ongoing collaboration with Ocean Cure, Beach Day continues to grow in size and significance. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter your stage in life, the ocean and the joy it brings is still within reach.