A dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis affects every person differently. At The Aspenwood Company, team members do not define a resident solely by a diagnosis. They take the time to understand who they are, the life they have lived and what continues to bring them purpose and joy.
Their SOAR Memory Care program, developed using research out of Rice University, combines clinical care, personalized experiences, specialized team-member training and thoughtfully designed environments within their Parcside neighborhoods.
“There can be many different emotions associated with transitioning to a memory care neighborhood,” said Debbie Jenkins-Melancon, Vice President of Clinical Operations. “We want our team members, families and everyone who enters our Parcside neighborhoods to understand that this is still an active vibrant neighborhood. It is a place where our residents live, connect and continue to experience meaningful moments.”
How do team members care for residents?
Supporting residents living with dementia is not limited to the clinical team. Every department—including clinical services, life enrichment, dining, housekeeping, maintenance and executive leadership—is trained to understand and support residents living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
“When team members first begin working with us, they may think dementia simply means that someone forgets things,” Jenkins-Melancon said. “By the end of their training, they understand that no two residents are the same. Their journeys are not the same, and the way we meet their needs from one day to the next may not be the same. That individualized approach is what makes SOAR different.”
When a resident moves into a Parcside neighborhood, the resident is evaluated and identified within one of the SOAR bird stages: Sparrow, Robin, Heron, Owl or Swan. These stages help team members better understand the resident’s current cognitive abilities, communication preferences and level of support needed.
Each resident also has a personalized profile that highlights favorite music, hobbies, meaningful memories and other important details about their life. These profiles are displayed outside residents’ apartments, allowing team members across all departments to learn more about each resident and identify meaningful ways to connect with them.
Jenkins-Melancon recalled a resident who consistently resisted assistance with brushing her teeth. After speaking with the resident’s daughter, the team learned that the woman’s late husband always encouraged her to wear her blue lipstick before their weekly dates. Her daughter suggested that team members tell her they needed to brush her teeth before helping her apply the lipstick.
“Now, instead of asking her to brush her teeth, the team asks, ‘Are you ready to put on your blue lipstick?’” Jenkins-Melancon said. “That simple piece of her life story completely changed the interaction. It is a perfect example of why knowing the person behind the diagnosis matters.”
Meeting residents where they are
SOAR was co-developed by Jenkins-Melancon and VP of Resident Experience, Amber McDaniel. They are both Memory Care Innovation award winners through Senior Housing News—McDaniel in 2025, and Jenkins-Melancon in 2026. SOAR emphasizes person-centered care, which means meeting residents where they are instead of correcting them or attempting to pull them into objective reality.
“If a resident is on Mars today, then we are on Mars with them,” Jenkins-Melancon said. “Our goal is not to correct their reality. Our goal is to enter their world, provide reassurance and make that moment meaningful.”
The same individualized approach extends to dining. Whenever possible, residents are seated with others who are at similar stages in their journey, supporting social engagement and meaningful interaction.
“We would not intentionally seat someone who communicates very fluently with someone who is nonverbal without considering how that may affect both residents,” Jenkins-Melancon said. “We want dining to encourage connection and stimulation, not create isolation.”
Residents dine using bright red Fiesta dinnerware, which can provide a strong visual contrast and help stimulate interest in food. Warm, scented towels are offered before meals to create a comforting routine, while soft instrumental music helps reduce distractions and promote a calm dining experience.
Purpose Points, designed specifically for each community
Each Parcside neighborhood includes Purpose Points—intentional spaces and experiences designed around residents’ interests, abilities and life histories. For example, many Dallas locations have a Dallas Cowboys theme.
“In Dallas, if we have a sports section, we try to use a Dallas Cowboys theme to make sure that it is applicable to the community's needs, and not just something that will fill up a space,” Jenkins-Melancon said. “It's all about purpose, and it's all about intention.”
Using technology to support proactive care
SOAR also incorporates innovative technology to help care teams identify changes in a resident’s health and daily patterns.
An optional sensor-based monitoring system is placed beneath the resident’s mattress and does not use cameras. It can monitor movement, sleep quality and other health trends while maintaining the resident’s privacy and dignity.
Care teams may receive alerts when a resident spends an extended amount of time in the bathroom, experiences changes in normal sleep patterns or gets out of bed when at an increased risk for falling.
According to Jenkins-Melancon, this technology has helped teams recognize potential concerns; including urinary tract infections and the need for medication reviews; before symptoms became more serious.
The bottom line
The SOAR Memory Care program is designed to help residents maintain dignity, independence, purpose and meaningful connections. It also provides families with confidence that their loved ones are receiving compassionate care based on who they are—not simply their diagnosis.
“Our goal is to make every moment the best moment it can be,” Jenkins-Melancon said.
The above story was produced by The Aspenwood Company team with Community Impact's Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
