Dementia Care Facility Embraces Inclusive Approach, Empowers Residents

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.

The facility also offers specialized programs, such as SAIDO learning, which uses brain exercises to help improve cognition for those with dementia. Brenda Mendoza, the life enrichment and memory care director, emphasizes the importance of understanding the root cause of behavioral issues and finding personalized ways to address them.

While some may be hesitant about the lack of a locked memory care unit, the Loomis Lakeside team believes this inclusive model promotes a more dignified and fulfilling life for residents with dementia. As the number of memory care units in the U.S. has grown by 62% in the last decade, this community is part of a small but growing movement to redefine dementia care.