Memory care at the kensington sierra madre
“To make a difference in someone’s life you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You have to care.” -Mandy Hale
Two “Neighborhoods” for the Customized Levels of Memory Care
Because we empathize with residents and their loved ones who are confronting the challenges of memory loss, we offer a thoughtfully designed memory care program geared for the whole family. We believe the degree of memory loss is an important consideration when providing memory care, so we offer two “neighborhoods” our residents call home.
We believe the best care is provided when we help residents to sucessfully “age in place,” which the two neighborhoods enhance. Both neighborhoods are cozy, intimate and secure, staffed by professionals trained to meet them where they are.
Connections
Connections is our neighborhood for early to middle stage Alzheimer’s and dementia care. It’s designed specifically for residents who show increasing signs of memory loss but still retain a significant degree of independence. Our goal is to help residents remain engaged in activities that give meaning and purpose to their lives.
Your loved one may be experiencing increased anxiety, fear of getting lost, isolation, and even depression before transitioning to assisted living. They may be having difficulty with daily tasks without reminders, causing them to become frustrated and lose confidence. They may also wander and become agitated in the late afternoon or early evening, as the sun goes down.
Connections provides a fully-secured environment to maximize safety, in an intimate, elegant, yet comfortable living space that fosters calm and comfort. The neighborhood has porches, a patio, and garden areas to enable residents to enjoy fresh air and sunshine freely. In our memory care neighborhoods, we also offer state-of-the-art wander management technology to manage residents’ whereabouts while allowing them to move freely.
The Connections Resident
- Is in the early to middle stages of dementia
- May be experiencing increased anxiety, fear of getting lost, isolation, and depression
- May be having difficulty with daily tasks without cueing and reminders, resulting in frustration and lack of confidence
- May wander and become agitated in late afternoon or early evening due to sundowning
The Connections Neighborhood
- Is cozy, intimate, and fully secured, with direct outdoor terrace access
- Is filled with the happy sounds and smells of home such as bread baking, music, laughter, and pets
- Has separate living, dining, café, entertainment, and program spaces
Haven
In our neighborhood for middle to late-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia, residents may be experiencing difficulty recognizing family and friends, organizing thoughts, and managing the activities of daily living. They may require assistance to maintain their appearance and good hygiene, as well as managing incontinence. Wandering and agitation may become more pronounced. Residents in this neighborhood receive a higher level of assistance and care.
Our goal is to maximize comfort, minimize agitation, and soothe compassionately. We also strive to offer residents opportunities to become involved in tailored activities in ways that are enriching and meaningful. The Haven neighborhood provides cozy and intimate living spaces that enable residents to explore safely and freely. There’s lots of natural light and a fully secure outdoor terrace to create a cheerful environment.
The neighborhood features an adaptive design, including painted walls and doors, motion sensors, specially designed carpet, and memory boxes, to help recognize and minimize confusion. We also make sure the kitchen is filled with happy sounds and smells of home, such as bread baking, music, laughter, and soft voices to soothe and please the senses.
The Haven Resident
- Is in the middle to late stages of dementia
- Has difficulty recognizing family and friends, organizing thoughts and managing the activities of daily living
- Requires assistance to maintain appearance and good hygiene and to prevent incontinence
- May wander and become agitated in late afternoon or early evening due to sundowning
- May exhibit challenging behaviors
The Haven Neighborhood
- Offers a fully secured environment with lots of natural light
- Is cozy and intimate with living spaces that enable residents to wander safely and freely
- Has secured and dedicated outdoor space that residents can freely access
- Is filled with the happy sounds and smells of home such as bread baking, music, laughter and pets
The Kensington Sierra Madre Provides Memory Care Backed by the Positive Approach to Care
The Kensington Sierra Madre recently became the first Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Designated senior living community in California. Thanks to our Executive Director CC Degraff, Director of Memory Care Leandra Sims, and The Kensington Sierra Madre team’s hard work, we are able to make this dream a reality!
The Positive Approach to Care, developed by Teepa Snow, is specific training for care teams and individuals on the brain changes, symptoms, and behaviors associated with dementia.
PAC helps our residents and their families see the person living with dementia, and not just the dementia. In this way, all parties are better equipped to understand what’s happening and respond in a more meaningful way. The Kensington Sierra Madre is proud to be a PAC Designated community, and to use these practices within our memory care community.