Commonwealth Senior Living

Commonwealth Senior Living is driven by the mission of providing personalized care for seniors. The organization started its journey in 2002, and in the later phase, it introduced the trademarked memory care program, Sweet Memories. The primary objective of this program is to deliver the highest quality of care, support, and engagement to residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

At the heart of Commonwealth Senior Living’s approach lies a belief in person-centered care, which essentially defines its purpose and fuels its actions.

“We refer to those in our care as residents, not patients, and designate our locations as communities rather than facilities. This distinction is pivotal in shaping the perspective of those seeking our assistance, primarily family members facing a situation where caring for their loved ones at home becomes impractical,” says Earl Parker, CEO of Commonwealth Senior Living.

At the heart of the Sweet Memories program lies the “life story,” a personalized account of each resident’s interests and preferences. This is crucial to curate ‘life kits’ tailored to their passions. For instance, if a new resident has a penchant for knitting, the organization creates a life kit complete with knitting supplies. The staff then engages with the resident using these kits, ensuring they have activities aligned with their interests. Whether it’s knitting, reading, solving crossword puzzles, or other hobbies, Commonwealth Senior Living crafts unique life kits to cater to individual preferences.

The program has evolved significantly since its inception. Initially, the goal was to send monthly pictures to families, capturing their loved ones using a Polaroid camera—One Sweet Memory. As technology advanced, the organization transitioned to digital cameras, and today, it utilizes a digital resident-family engagement platform called SMILE. The caregivers, equipped with iPads, instantly capture moments during activities and share them with families in real time. This regular stream of images and updates provides families with a constant visual connection to their loved ones.

“This engagement not only brings joy but also alleviates any guilt or concerns families may have about entrusting their loved one’s care to us. They can see their relatives enjoying activities and building relationships with fellow residents, reaffirming their confidence in their decision,” says Parker.

The Sweet Memories is complemented by other programs like Sweet Melodies, involving personalized playlists and regular music activities and expression programs, encouraging artistic creation. Apart from this, Commonwealth Senior Living has established the Special Touch program, where it provides warm scented towels before each meal. They contain essential oils that help stimulate taste buds, promoting a heightened appetite for the upcoming meal.

Another noteworthy aspect, while not exclusive to memory care, is Commonwealth Senior Living’s strong emphasis on dining. It has implemented the Farm to Table program across all levels of care—be it independent living, assisted living, or memory care. This initiative involves partnering with local farmers to provide residents with fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, and produce.

The organization puts a strong emphasis on ensuring a safe and secure environment within its communities. All the locations are equipped with security measures such as locking devices to restrict access solely to the staff. This plays a vital role in maintaining resident safety, particularly for those who may attempt to leave the premises.

Commonwealth Senior Living, over the years, has helped many families in taking care of their dear ones. A family member, in fact, recently expressed her gratitude to the organization, saying, “You have given me my mother back.”

Commonwealth encompasses an experienced team that trains the frontline staff and puts them through the programs. It has also designed a program, Hire for Heart, to build a strong workforce. In this program, people are hired based on six core values—fun-loving, ownership mindset, responsible, empathetic, vocal, and dignified. Eventually, the employees are given training on caring for others, cooking, housekeeping, and dining.

Commonwealth has become synonymous with compassionate and personalized care, serving numerous families and society as a whole.