Summer House Champions a Resident-Centered Approach to Memory Care

With a simple wave of the hand, a Summer House resident scatters an interactive display of multicolored leaves projected onto a table while another basks in the Santa Barbara sunshine on the patio of Summer House at Vista del Monte, a memory care neighborhood for residents with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. The community creates a protected and engaging environment for residents that are supported by staff and innovative technology. 

The resident-centered approach to memory care begins early on. “Before moving in, we meet with them and their family to understand their routine as well as likes and dislikes,” notes Jennifer Alcantara, Social Services Designee. “We want to understand not only residents’ interests but also see how they interact with other people,” adds Octavia Despres, Life Enrichment Specialist. This important step prepares staff to meet residents where they are and plan for the appropriate level of care and engagement on day one.

This understanding of routine and the resident’s lived experience expands after they move in as staff pay careful attention to how residents interact with the neighborhood and surroundings. An essential part of this approach is communication. “Caregivers have hands on experience with residents that require specialized care and communicate with other staff members so everyone is on the same page,” Jennifer shares. “It’s a collaboration between the family and the care team.”

“We approach each day as something new,” Octavia notes. “We look at the resident’s personality, their mood and how they are doing in the moment.” This allows staff to adapt to meet resident needs.  

This responsive method is the crux of programming at Summer House. “We craft enrichment activities around what will work for each resident,” Jennifer shares. “We listen to the residents on if they want to engage with the current activity and provide other options so that everyone feels included.”

With ample space within Summer House and accompanied access to the community’s outdoor spaces, it provides a protected environment that allows the team to meet each resident where they are. Summer House has space for art explorations, a gathering space with a piano for music performances, a Sensory room with adaptable lighting, scents and massage chairs and two patios perfect for communing with nature or joining social events. Walks around the grounds are also a regular occurrence as well as visits with residents from other neighborhoods within Vista del Monte.

Technology brings innovative engagement opportunities for Summer House residents. For example, a Tovertafel unit projects interactive images onto a table. The projected images give residents a unique way to color, play a music box, compete in a soccer game and more. “It can be personalized or it can also be used in social gatherings or with families,” Jennifer notes. When other stimulus could be too much, interacting with Tovertafel can also provide a soothing experience.

The LifeLoop iN2L system is another great way to interact. A giant touchscreen, iN2L includes hundreds of videos and games that residents can enjoy together. “Residents love trivia,” Octavia shares. The iN2L also allows residents to video chat with family members and local students.

The coordination between caring and welcoming staff in a protected environment combined with adaptable technology creates an environment where residents that require memory care can thrive together. “The level of dedication that we bring to the residents – that’s our goal and our purpose,” Jennifer highlights. 

To learn more about Summer House at Vista del Monte and our approach to memory care, visit summerhouseatvdm.org.