At The Kensington Sierra Madre, we help team members build meaningful careers in memory care through specialized dementia training, continuing education, competitive benefits, and professional growth opportunities.
As a Positive Approach to Care Designated Community, we place great importance on developing the knowledge and skills needed to support residents experiencing memory loss.
Whether you’re an experienced caregiver, a nursing professional, or exploring a new career in senior living, we welcome your interest in growing with us.
Key Takeaways: Memory Care Careers at The Kensington Sierra Madre
- Specialized dementia care training: Learn Positive Approach to Care techniques that support compassionate communication and person-centered care.
- Continued professional education: Build practical skills through onboarding, hands-on training, and ongoing learning opportunities.
- Competitive team member benefits: Explore health and retirement benefits, paid time off, tuition assistance opportunities, and other support programs.
- Career development opportunities: Strengthen your expertise, pursue additional qualifications, and explore new professional responsibilities.
- A supportive team culture: Work alongside people who value compassion, collaboration, and professional excellence.
Interested in joining a community that invests in your development? Apply today.
Memory Care Training: Building Skills From Day One
Beginning a new role is an opportunity to learn, connect, and develop confidence.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, our onboarding and training programs help team members understand their responsibilities and become familiar with our approach to resident care.
We recognize that a caregiver starting their first senior living position has different learning needs than an experienced nursing professional. Our training helps team members build on their existing knowledge.
What Does New Team Member Training Include?
Our onboarding process introduces team members to essential aspects of community life and resident support.
Depending on your position, training may address:
- Resident-centered care: Respecting individual preferences, routines, and abilities.
- Dementia awareness: Understanding how cognitive changes affect daily activities and communication.
- Safety procedures: Learning infection prevention, emergency preparedness, and safe caregiving practices.
- Communication: Developing respectful interactions with residents, families, and fellow team members.
- Care coordination: Understanding how departments work together to support residents.
Our onboarding program also incorporates Relias education covering senior care topics.
Continuing Education and Hands-On Learning
Continued education is essential in memory care.
Residents may experience changes in communication, mobility, memory, and daily support needs. Understanding these changes helps team members adjust their approach.
Our professional development efforts include monthly team training sessions and hands-on learning initiatives across departments.
Learn more about our onboarding and training approach at The Kensington Sierra Madre.
Specialized Dementia Training Through Positive Approach to Care
One of the most valuable skills you can develop in memory care is understanding how dementia changes a person’s experience of the world.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, our Positive Approach to Care Designation reflects our commitment to education that supports dignity, independence, and meaningful relationships.
In 2022, we became the first Positive Approach to Care Designated senior living community in California.
What Is Positive Approach to Care?
Positive Approach to Care, developed by dementia educator Teepa Snow, teaches approaches to supporting individuals experiencing changes in brain function.
Rather than focusing only on what someone can no longer do, this philosophy encourages recognition of their remaining strengths and abilities.
Training emphasizes skills such as:
- Recognizing how dementia affects communication and behavior
- Using respectful verbal and nonverbal communication
- Understanding how surroundings can influence responses
- Responding thoughtfully to confusion or distress
- Adapting assistance to changing abilities
- Encouraging independence whenever appropriate
Understanding Different Stages of Memory Loss
Our specialized memory care model gives team members insight into how support needs can change as dementia progresses.
The Kensington Sierra Madre offers three neighborhoods serving residents with different cognitive needs.
- The Kensington Club: Supports new and current assisted living residents experiencing mild cognitive changes.
- Connections: Our memory care neighborhood for residents experiencing mid-stage memory loss.
- Haven: Our memory care neighborhood for residents experiencing later-stage memory loss.
Understanding these different stages helps team members recognize why approaches to communication, engagement, and daily assistance may need to change.
Benefits of Working in Memory Care at The Kensington Sierra Madre
Compensation, benefits, and personal well-being are important considerations when planning your future.
We recognize the dedication memory care requires and offer benefits designed to support our team members inside and outside the community.
Compensation and Team Member Benefits
Our current benefits include:
- Competitive salaries: Compensation that recognizes the responsibilities and value of your work.
- Health, life, 401(k), and other benefits: Available according to eligibility, with benefits starting at 30 hours per week.
- Generous paid time off: Opportunities to rest, recharge, and attend to personal priorities.
- Employee Assistance Program: Resources to support personal well-being.
- Opportunities for tuition assistance: Potential support for eligible educational pursuits.
- Emergency Support Program: Resources available under applicable program requirements.
- Complimentary lunches and dinners: Convenient meals during your workday.
Specific eligibility, coverage, and benefit details may vary by position, schedule, and employment status.
We encourage applicants to discuss these details during the hiring process.
Support That Extends Beyond Benefits
Memory care brings meaningful moments, but it can also involve emotionally demanding situations.
Working with colleagues who communicate openly and understand the responsibilities of caregiving makes a difference.
Our team members work across departments to share observations, coordinate support, and respond to resident needs.
Looking for meaningful work with benefits that support your future? View current open positions at The Kensington Sierra Madre
Career Growth and Professional Development in Memory Care
Memory care offers opportunities to expand your expertise in several directions.
Some professionals want to deepen their knowledge of caregiving. Others hope to pursue nursing credentials, explore specialized responsibilities, or develop leadership skills.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, our approach to memory care career development encourages continued learning, specialized skills, and professional growth.
Career Development for Caregivers and CNAs
Caregiving and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) experience can provide a strong foundation for future opportunities.
As you develop your skills, you may become interested in:
- Dementia care specialization: Building advanced knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss.
- Medication-related roles: Pursuing the training and qualifications required for applicable responsibilities.
- Nursing education: Exploring LVN or RN education and licensing pathways.
- Mentorship: Developing the communication and guidance skills needed to support fellow team members.
- Leadership: Building organizational, problem-solving, and supervisory skills.
Each direction has different educational requirements, qualifications, and potential opportunities. Advancement is based on individual readiness and available positions rather than an automatic progression.
Growth Opportunities Across Departments
Not every meaningful memory care career involves direct caregiving.
Our community brings together professionals with different talents, all contributing to residents’ daily experiences.
Depending on your department, professional development may involve:
- Life enrichment: Learning techniques for meaningful engagement and activities adapted to residents’ abilities.
- Dining: Strengthening knowledge of resident preferences, nutrition, and supportive mealtime experiences.
- Environmental services: Developing skills in safety, cleanliness, and creating comfortable living environments.
- Nursing: Continuing professional education and expanding clinical knowledge within the scope of your license.
- Leadership: Improving communication, team coordination, and decision-making.
These skills contribute to the quality and consistency of resident care.
Tuition Assistance and Continuing Education
Formal education may be an important part of your career goals.
Our benefits include opportunities for tuition assistance, which may help eligible team members pursue further education.
The availability and terms of assistance depend on program requirements.
Explore additional career paths in senior living at The Kensington Sierra Madre.
Why Our Team Culture Matters
Training gives you knowledge. Experience helps you apply it. A supportive team gives you people to learn alongside.
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, we believe our shared values help create an environment where team members can contribute their strengths and support one another.
The Values Behind Our Work
Four values guide our approach:
- Love for Seniors: Approaching residents with warmth, patience, and respect.
- Respect for Each Other: Recognizing the perspectives and contributions of every team member.
- Passion for Excellence: Committing to thoughtful care and continued improvement.
- Spirit to Serve: Finding meaningful ways to support residents, families, and colleagues.
Finding Purpose in Your Work
Memory care offers opportunities to make a difference through everyday interactions.
Helping a resident feel comfortable during a morning routine, recognizing a familiar preference, or providing reassurance during a difficult moment can be meaningful.
As your experience grows, so does your ability to recognize and respond to individual needs.
Get to know the people who help make our community special by visiting our Kensington Sierra Madre team page.
FAQs: Memory Care Careers
Not every position requires the same level of experience. Qualifications depend on the role. Some positions may require professional credentials, certifications, or previous caregiving experience. We encourage you to review current openings and identify opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.
Our training approach includes onboarding, safety education, dementia care instruction, and continued learning opportunities. Positive Approach to Care techniques are an important part of our community’s memory care philosophy. Specific training requirements vary depending on your position and responsibilities.
Yes. Opportunities for tuition assistance are included among our listed team member benefits. Eligibility and available educational support depend on program requirements. Applicants interested in additional certifications or formal education can ask about applicable opportunities during the hiring process.
Caregiving experience can provide a valuable foundation for further professional development. Potential directions include pursuing nursing education, obtaining additional qualifications, or developing leadership skills. Each pathway has its own requirements, and advancement depends on qualifications and available opportunities.
Memory care involves specialized support for individuals experiencing changes in memory, communication, reasoning, and daily abilities. Team members learn to adapt their interactions and respond to each resident’s unique needs. This work calls for patience, observation, compassion, and continued learning, making specialized dementia education especially valuable.
Grow Your Memory Care Career With Us
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, we believe professional development and compassionate care belong together. We are committed to helping team members build skills, continue learning, and explore meaningful career opportunities.
Whether you’re experienced in dementia care or interested in bringing your talents to senior living, we invite you to consider joining our community.
Join Our Kensington Family.