If you’re called to serve with heart, patience, and purpose, memory care might be your next great career move.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, we offer meaningful opportunities across three dedicated memory care neighborhoods—The Kensington Club, Connections, and Haven—each designed to meet residents where they are in their cognitive journey.
Whether you’re just starting or ready to specialize, working in senior living memory care means making deep human connections, supporting independence, and being part of a team that truly loves what they do.
What Makes Memory Care Different?
Memory care is more than assistance with daily living, it’s personalized, compassionate support for individuals experiencing cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or related conditions.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, our memory care neighborhoods include:
- The Kensington Club: Early-stage memory care for assisted living residents showing signs of mild memory loss. This program enhances their quality of life through mental stimulation, social engagement, and routines that preserve independence.
- Connections: A safe, structured neighborhood for early-to-mid-stage dementia, offering sensory-rich activities and encouragement for residents navigating moderate memory loss.
- Haven: Our most advanced care environment, designed for those with mid-to-late-stage dementia. Calm, familiarity, and full support are prioritized to maintain comfort and dignity.
Each neighborhood is supported by 24/7 on-site nursing and high team-to-resident ratios, ensuring residents receive expert, loving care at every stage.
What Certifications Do You Need to Work in Memory Care?
Many team members start in one of these fulfilling roles:
- Care Partner or CNA: Requires California CNA certification. Empathy, patience, and attentiveness are key.
- Med Tech: CNA certification and additional medication technician training are essential.
- Life Enrichment Assistant: Experience in dementia programming is a plus, and a creative, joyful spirit is a must.
- Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or RN: Active California licensure and geriatric experience are required.
We also support professional growth with dementia training, workshops, and sponsorships for certifications.
A Day in the Life: The Kensington Club
The Kensington Club serves assisted living residents beginning to show signs of memory loss. Caregivers here balance clinical awareness with joyful engagement:
- Supporting morning routines and personal care
- Facilitating small-group discussions, games, and brain fitness sessions
- Providing light reminders and gentle redirection
- Fostering friendships and encouraging autonomy
Residents here often know names, routines, and faces. Team members enjoy seeing those connections deepen over time.
A Day in the Life: Connections Neighborhood
Connections provides structure and stimulation to residents with early-to-mid-stage memory loss. Team members play a crucial role in:
- Assisting with personal care in a respectful, empowering way
- Leading or supporting life enrichment activities, including art, music, and brain games
- Offering reassurance during disorientation
- Encouraging mealtime independence and shared conversation
This neighborhood is full of life, routine, and familiar faces that help create daily successes and smiles.
A Day in the Life: Haven Neighborhood
In Haven, residents are in the later stages of dementia, and team members become experts in comfort and calm. A typical day may include:
- Full assistance with daily tasks, including bathing, mobility, and toileting
- Managing behaviors like wandering or restlessness with grace and patience
- Offering sensory therapies like aromatherapy, hand massages, and calming music
- Monitoring health in close collaboration with nurses
Caregivers here witness extraordinary moments of connection, eye contact, a brief smile, or the calm after distress. These moments affirm the impact of presence and consistency.
Traits That Set Memory Care Professionals Apart
Not everyone is drawn to memory care, but those who are bring a special set of strengths:
- Compassion and calm in emotional or repetitive situations
- Creative communication beyond words
- Keen observation of subtle physical or behavioral changes
- Reliability and team orientation in a shared-care environment
If this resonates, you may have the heart of a memory care professional.
Growth & Support: Training Opportunities
We believe in nurturing our team’s growth. The Kensington Sierra Madre offers:
- Monthly training in dementia care techniques
- Shadowing in all three neighborhoods
- Education stipends and sponsorship for certifications
- Opportunities for cross-training between caregiving, medication support, and life enrichment roles
From your first day to your fifth year, we’ll help you grow as a compassionate caregiver and memory care expert.
The Emotional Rewards of Memory Care
In memory care, you may not always hear “thank you”, but you’ll feel it. A gentle squeeze of the hand. A moment of recognition. A shared laugh.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, our team members often say this work is “quietly life-changing.” You’ll preserve dignity, offer reassurance, and help residents feel safe, seen, and valued even when words fade.
Begin Your Journey in Memory Care
If you’re searching for purpose, growth, and the chance to love others as family, join us at The Kensington Sierra Madre.
Explore current openings and learn more about working in The Kensington Club, Connections, or Haven.