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Dementia Care Facility Embraces Inclusive Approach, Empowers Residents
17 Nov
Summary
- 94-year-old Rita Orr lives in a CCRC with no segregated memory care unit
- Facility trains staff and residents to interact with and support those with dementia
- Residents with dementia are encouraged to participate in community activities
As of November 2025, a growing number of senior living communities are embracing a more inclusive approach to dementia care. One such facility is Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, Massachusetts, where 94-year-old Rita Orr resides.
Orr's daughter, Janice Rogers, made the difficult decision to move her mother to a senior living community a few years ago as Orr's health declined. However, the first facility they chose did not work out. Now, Orr lives in the skilled nursing wing of Loomis Lakeside, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that does not have a segregated memory care unit.
Instead, the facility trains both staff and residents on how to interact with and support those living with dementia. Executive director Lori Todd explains that they aim to meet residents "where they are" and integrate them into the community, rather than isolating them. Residents like Ann McIntosh and Helene Houston have embraced this approach, learning to communicate with their neighbors in a way that validates their experiences and keeps them engaged.
