AHEPA Senior Living / News / AHEPA Senior Living Achieves Prestigious KultureCity® Certification, Furthering Commitment to Inclusivity

June 1, 2026

AHEPA Senior Living Achieves Prestigious KultureCity® Certification, Furthering Commitment to Inclusivity

First-of-its-kind partnership will bring sensory-inclusive practices and resources to 93 affordable senior living communities nationwide

 

FISHERS, Ind. (June 1, 2026) —AHEPA Senior Living proudly announces a first-of-its-kind partnership with KultureCity® to bring sensory-inclusive practices, training, and resources to its nationwide portfolio of 93 affordable independent and assisted living communities through a phased rollout.

KultureCity, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs, has helped transform public venues and community spaces nationwide through its groundbreaking flagship initiative, the Sensory Inclusive™ program. It provides training and resources to staff at venues worldwide, enabling them to better accommodate individuals with sensory sensitivities.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals, including older adults, with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions. As a result of AHEPA Senior Living’s partnership with KultureCity, very low-income older adults and their families can now experience and enjoy community spaces and programs with greater comfort and ease.

“This partnership is about enhancing comfort and peace of mind not only for our residents, but also for the families and loved ones who visit them,” AHEPA Senior Living Chairman and Acting CEO Ike Gulas said. “Whether someone is visiting a parent or grandparent, we want every person who walks through our doors to feel welcomed, understood, and supported. I’m especially proud that one of the first communities included in this rollout is AHEPA 3 Apartments, where I also serve as local board president.”

Initial Alabama Rollout

The initial rollout occurred at four AHEPA Senior Living communities in Alabama with a commitment to scale the program across the organization’s nationwide portfolio.

The certification process included training by leading medical and neurodivergent professionals on how to recognize residents or their family members with sensory needs and how to respond to sensory overload situations. Certification also included sensory bags with supportive tools (pictured below) for individuals who may experience sensory sensitivities, as well as custom social stories (links below) designed to help residents and visitors prepare for their visit.

“Empowering communities through inclusion and innovation, AHEPA Senior Living is aligned with the same visionary spirit as KultureCity and is championing a world where every individual, regardless of ability, is not just accepted but celebrated for their unique contributions to the tapestry of humanity,” KultureCity Executive Director Uma Srivastava said. 

Prior to visiting an AHEPA Senior Living community, visitors can download the free KultureCity App to view available sensory features, learn where to access them, and see a Social Story that previews what to expect at a community event.

In May, TIME named KultureCity, one of its “10 Most Influential Social Good Companies” of 2026.

“What you guys are doing is brave.”

In a special video message supporting the initiative, actor and KultureCity supporter George Xanthis praised AHEPA Senior Living’s commitment to inclusion, calling the organization’s work “brave,” and highlighted its embrace of meraki, the Greek ethos of doing something with soul, creativity, and love.

About KultureCity

KultureCity®, established in 2014, is a dynamic nonprofit organization at the forefront of the inclusivity movement which continues to make waves in creating a more accessible and accepting world for individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities (found in 1 in 4 of us). In a short 10 years, a few highlight of KultureCity’s impact includes making over 1,800 venues sensory inclusive certified, handing out almost a million sensory bags to individuals in need, making over 150 live events sensory inclusive, and saving 48 lives through the KultureCity First Responder Training. KultureCity’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond physical spaces. The organization actively collaborates with influential figures, businesses, and communities to promote awareness and understanding of invisible disabilities. KultureCity partners with event industry leaders like NFL, NBA, MLB and FIFA to make their flagship events sensory inclusive. With ongoing initiatives, partnerships, and a passionate community of supporters, KultureCity is set to leave an enduring impact on the landscape of inclusivity.

About AHEPA Senior Living

Since 1980, AHEPA Senior Living, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has developed, managed, and preserved affordable housing communities that help residents live with dignity, independence, and security. Today, the organization serves more than 5,000 residents across 93 communities in 19 states through HUD-assisted independent living complemented by comprehensive service coordination and affordable assisted living under its Hellenic Senior Living brand. AHEPA Senior Living has earned Candid’s 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition available through Candid. The mission of AHEPA Senior Living is to provide older adults with safe, healthy, and enriching affordable residential communities and quality services that allow them to thrive and enjoy peace of mind. The organization is headquartered in Fishers, Indiana. Learn more at ahepaseniorliving.org