Memory Care at the Sunshine Centre: Personalized Support, Grounded in Education and Evidence
At Luther Village on the Park, the Sunshine Centre provides a secure, supportive environment designed for individuals living with cognitive impairment.
Our Memory Care program offers a tailored level of support that balances safety, dignity, and independence. We accomplish this well by focusing on ongoing education, training, and evidence‑based dementia care practices.
Located on our secured second floor within the Sunshine Centre, this purposefully designed Memory Care area is home to 33 private suites. The environment is intentionally calm, welcoming, and easy to navigate.
Thoughtful design elements, such as colour‑coded suite doors, interactive hallway murals and activations, a secure and spacious balcony, comfortable seating areas, and wide hallways designed for safe walking, help support wayfinding, reduce anxiety, and encourage movement, connection, and conversation.
The space feels like home, with artwork featuring animals and children that evokes familiarity, warmth, and comfort, helping residents feel cozy, engaged, and at ease in their surroundings.
Private Suites That Support Safety and Wellness
Each resident or couple enjoys the comfort and privacy of their own suite with a personal washroom. Shared accommodations are not part of our care model. We offer a variety of layouts, including studio, one‑bedroom, and two‑bedroom suites, depending on availability.
This private‑suite approach not only enhances dignity and comfort but also supports infection prevention and overall wellness by minimizing shared living spaces.
Health Assessments and Ongoing Care Planning
Before moving‐in, each prospective resident completes a comprehensive health assessment led by our Director of Care. This assessment helps determine the appropriate level of care, ensures safety for all residents on the memory care floor, and supports the development of a personalized plan of care.
Care planning does not stop at when a resident moves in.
We believe in ongoing dialogue and education, adjusting care techniques and strategies as residents’ needs change. Our multidisciplinary care team meets often to review health, wellness, cognitive changes, behaviors, ongoing strategies, the latest ideas and overall quality of life. Families take comfort knowing our residents are supported by a skilled and compassionate team, 24 hours a day.
While we provide an elevated level of personalized support, it is important to note that the Sunshine Centre is not a long‑term care home.
We are not licensed to provide feeding assistance, two‑person Hoyer lift transfers, or care for residents with aggressive behaviours. Our program is best suited for individuals who do not yet qualify for long‑term care and who can engage in daily services, amenities, and programming, but also may be beyond the care we can provide in assisted living.
Levels of Care and Daily Support
Residents benefit from a comprehensive range of Memory Care services, including:
24/7 nursing support and emergency response (this is unplanned and unscheduled support) *of course there would be planned care as well (see below for personal support daily description) but we are staffed in this area to meet the changing needs throughout all hours of the day.
ERS pendants and wander alert devices, when appropriate
Medication management by trained staff in coordination with our pharmacy
Up to 60 minutes of personal support daily, including assistance with routines, continence care, and meal reminders
Twice‑weekly shower assistance
Daily housekeeping, weekly laundry, and fresh linens
Overnight wellness checks every two hours for safety and reassurance
Nutritious meals are served three times daily, with accommodations for a wide variety of dietary needs, including diabetic‑friendly, heart‑healthy, texture‑modified, and allergen‑sensitive diets.
Education‑Driven, Evidence‑Based Dementia Care
Our care team receives specialized training in evidence‑based dementia care approaches.
The Village holds certifications in programs such as:
Tovertafel, an interactive system designed specifically for people living with dementia
Java Music Club
LIVING the Dementia Journey
We continually explore new research, tools, and technologies that improve quality of life and support meaningful engagement, ensuring care remains current, responsive, and compassionate.
Music Therapy and Meaningful Engagement
Music plays a powerful role in memory care.
Our Music Therapist leads themed group sessions that use music to spark recognition, lift mood, and encourage participation. They also support one-on-one music therapy when needed.
From January through August, we proudly partner with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Music Therapy Program, welcoming interns who provide weekly one‑on‑one sessions. This brings an enriching, intergenerational dynamic to the program while enhancing personalized care.
A Meaningful Day, Every Month
Daily activities are thoughtfully curated to support cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well‑being. Residents may also leave the memory care floor with staff or volunteers to enjoy walking groups, coffee outings, one‑on‑one visits, and larger Village‑wide programs.
Supervised bus outings take place weekly, offering variety and connection beyond the campus.
Knowing the Person Behind the Diagnosis
Our Memory Care Navigator works closely with families to create a personalized resident profile that captures everyone's story, routines, preferences, and life experiences.
These profiles help staff, volunteers, and fellow residents connect more meaningfully, ensuring care is not just clinically appropriate – but deeply personal.
They also lead weekly meetings to collaborate with all teams to ensure we are doing everything we can to meet residents where they are, coming up with new approaches to enhance their lives each week.
Support for Families, Too
Our Dementia Support Groups offer spouses and care partners a safe, welcoming space to learn coping strategies, share experiences, and navigate the ever‑changing journey of memory loss – together.
Moments That Make a Difference, Every Day
Sometimes the clearest measure of care comes through as simple moments and feedback.
Families tell us how meaningful it is to receive a photo or an update showing their loved one taking part in an activity, sharing a smile, or stepping outside their comfort zone. For some, these are moments that haven’t happened in a long time.
We often hear from families who live nearby and visit regularly yet still find it challenging to encourage their loved one to join activities or go out for an outing. Knowing there is a trusted team member who understands their family member, gently builds rapport, and uses patience and encouragement to spark participation brings deep reassurance.
When a resident who once preferred to stay in their suite begins joining a group, or shows interest in a bus outing, it becomes a meaningful milestone, not just for the resident, but for the whole family.
These moments don’t happen by chance.
They are the result of consistency, creativity, and genuine connection from our caring team.
At the Sunshine Centre, those small breakthroughs are celebrated, because they represent something bigger: confidence regained, trust built, and a life still fully lived, supported by compassionate care every step of the way.