In the courtyard at Grand Living Tuscan Lakes, LUMINATIONS® memory care residents gather to enjoy ice cream, chat and watch butterflies in a new sanctuary developed specifically for their neighborhood. Elsewhere, residents join family activities, listen to live entertainment or participate in events alongside their neighbors.

This approach reflects a central idea behind LUMINATIONS®: maximizing each resident’s abilities and helping them continue living a meaningful life while receiving the care and security they need.

What makes LUMINATIONS® different from traditional memory care?

There are several factors that distinguish LUMINATIONS® from traditional memory care, one being the relationships team members build with residents and their families. Staff learn about each resident’s history, likes, dislikes and routines, so they can tailor daily life around the person rather than expecting the person to adapt to a standardized schedule.

For example, one resident worked night shifts for 30 years as a dispatcher. Rather than forcing her into an unfamiliar morning schedule, she wakes up at 10:30 a.m. and enjoys a late breakfast, preserving the daily rhythm her brain has known for decades.

Dining is equally flexible, offering six or seven meal options for breakfast, including omelets, pancakes, and biscuits and gravy, as well as diverse choices at lunch and dinner.

Activities are personalized, too. For example, through monthly “armchair travel,” the team visits places connected to residents’ actual pasts, such as Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky. Utah was recently selected as an upcoming destination, because one resident was born and raised there. 

Director of LUMINATIONS® Stephanie Elkins said the resident immediately became excited about sharing her memories of the state’s canyons, hiking trails and foods she grew up eating.

Smiling woman with long wavy hair and owl necklace poses in front of a bookshelf.
Elkins

The program also includes two neighborhoods: Lavender Lane, an all-female neighborhood, and Monarch, which serves both men and women. The separate options give families a choice while recognizing that women may have different needs related to appearance, hygiene and interaction.

“Our Grand Living leadership team had worked in the industry before, but there had never been a community that specialized in women's needs, so they did surveys and deduced that a lot of times, family members, especially of younger women who have Alzheimer's disease—right now, we're seeing a younger population of individuals who have dementia—want that extra level of security and comfort knowing that their mom is only with women. They don't have to worry about her possibly forming a relationship. Also, husbands feel really comfortable with their wives being in Lavender Lane,” Executive Director Latranda Thurmond said.

Thurmond

How does LUMINATIONS® keep residents connected to the larger Tuscan Lakes community?

At Tuscan Lakes, memory care is not treated as a separate world. Residents regularly participate in activities and celebrations throughout the community, including a recent Margaritaville-themed event with live entertainment. LUMINATIONS® residents sat in the front rows, dancing, singing and clapping along with their neighbors.

Higher-functioning residents can also join staff for activities such as Coffee and Conversations and arts and crafts. Some residents transition from assisted living into LUMINATIONS®, allowing them to remain in a familiar community and providing what the team describes as “total continuity of care.”

Modern hallway with dark shingle walls, framed artwork, wood floors, pendant lights, and colorful doors.
Grand Living at Tuscan Lakes

What does personalized care look like in LUMINATIONS®?

Personalized care is integrated into each resident’s individual service plan, with assistance based on their specific needs. Services can include help with showering, toileting, grooming, dressing and other activities of daily living, as well as medication distribution.

To provide additional attention, LUMINATIONS® maintains a higher staffing level than the state requirement. While the state ratio is two staff members for every 18 residents, Tuscan Lakes staffs three for every 18 residents.

The community also works with hospice and health care agencies when residents need additional services as their needs change, allowing many residents to remain in the community as their dementia naturally progresses.

Dining room with tables, upholstered chairs, a piano, hutch, and pendant lighting on wood flooring.
Grand Living at Tuscan Lakes

How does LUMINATIONS® support families through the transition?

Elkins developed a 14-Day Transition Process to help residents and families adjust to life in LUMINATIONS®. During the first two weeks, families step back from visiting so staff can learn the resident’s habits and help them become familiar with their new environment. Before the process starts, Elkins thoroughly describes what families can expect each day.

“If the family is always there, residents are never going to get accustomed to what their routine now looks like. I want them to be able to take off their blinders and [become rooted] into the community. It's helped a lot,” Elkins said. “Family members don't feel like they're [missing] anything because I'll FaceTime them; they might not be able to actually talk to the resident, but they can see that their loved ones are happy.”

Elkins also created Love from LUMINATIONS®, a weekly newsletter featuring photos of residents participating in activities, community updates and dementia education. It gives families another way to stay connected, including those who live outside the area.

Common room with digital piano, framed cottage painting, dining table with chairs, and wooden display cabinet.
Grand Living at Tuscan Lakes

Beyond the newsletter, Elkins is in constant communication with families, speaking to them every day if that is what they prefer, so she can fully understand each family's praises or concerns, and tailor each resident’s care based on their feedback.

Ultimately, the programs and personalized approach are designed to help residents remain active members of their community while giving families confidence that their loved ones are known, supported and cared for.

“It’s not about curing a disease anymore; it’s about being present every day. The residents thrive in this environment, and the families can take a deep breath,” Elkins said.

Those interested in learning more about the LUMINATIONS® program can find resources here:

Frequently asked questions

What are the two neighborhoods within LUMINATIONS®, and how do they differ?

LUMINATIONS® includes two distinct neighborhoods: Lavender Lane, an all-female neighborhood, and Monarch, which serves both men and women. Both neighborhoods offer the same personalized care model, giving families a choice based on their comfort and their loved one's needs.

What is the LUMINATIONS® 14-Day Transition Process?

Director of LUMINATIONS® Stephanie Elkins developed a structured two-week process to help new residents settle in. During the first 14 days, families temporarily step back from visits so staff can learn the resident's habits and help them become comfortable with their new environment. Families stay connected through FaceTime check-ins from Elkins and daily photos, so they can see that their loved one is happy. Elkins walks families through what to expect each day before the process begins.

What is the staff-to-resident ratio in LUMINATIONS®?

LUMINATIONS® at Grand Living Tuscan Lakes maintains a higher staffing level than the Texas state requirement. The state requires two staff members for every 18 residents; Tuscan Lakes staffs three for every 18 residents, providing additional attention and support for each resident's individualized care plan.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.