The Heritage Memory Life Community is One of 12 Communities Recognized Nationally As “Community That Shines”

Loretto honored in the category of Brilliance in Resident Experience by Lifeloop

Syracuse, NY (April 4, 2024) – Loretto’s Heritage Memory Life Community is one of 12 communities to be recognized nationally as a “Community That Shines.” This distinction means that The Heritage Memory Life Community successfully incorporates smart technology solutions to create more opportunities to engage with residents, improving the quality of experiences for residents and their family members, as well as staff.

Loretto was recognized in the category of Brilliance in Resident Experience. The merit was awarded by LifeLoop, a comprehensive software platform that holistically supports senior living owners, staff, residents, and their families. LifeLoop visited The Heritage in March to see the “It’s Never Too Late” system (iN2L program) in action, engaging in a game of “Family Feud” with residents.

Used in recreational therapy, iNTL uses touchscreens to bring customized content to residents, which helps boost moods and self-esteem, as well as stimulate social connection. There are cognitive games, sensory experiences, and guided physical activities available. The system provides an expansive library of digital content that offers personalized, engaging, and fun ways for residents to connect around wellness through videos, music, and more.

From a staff perspective, recreational therapists are able to elevate the level of engagement they have with residents as the technology is a tool to help bridge communication gaps. With easy-to-build activity calendars and quick access to content in group or individual care settings, staff can adapt the software to help residents in various settings.

“Our residents are all at different stages of Dementia and/or Alzheimer’s Disease, and there is no one size fits all standard for providing meaningful and enriching activities,” said Assistant Administrator of The Heritage, Stephanie Deecher. “The versatility and the mobility of the iN2L system is such a great asset in helping us accommodate everyone and meeting them where they are. Not only does our population change, but each individual changes from day to day too, so finding activities that they enjoy can be a challenge. iN2L has helped solve some of these challenges by having different activities for all stages of the dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. iN2L provides such a large variety of games and activities that can be suited to both individual and group settings.”

Therapists have also seen success working one-on-one with residents.

“For our residents who don’t do well in large groups, we find that the activities like the Bubble Popper, the art activities, and the traffic jam game really help relax and feel like they belong,” said Kim Greco, a Recreational Therapist at The Heritage. “There really is a use to stimulate the minds, bodies, and emotional well-being of all of our residents. Even when the software is not being used, we have the system default to a screensaver that looks like a fish tank. This provides residents with a soothing, relaxing outlet to be able to sit quietly, and enjoy it like a real fish tank.”

As part of its “Community That Shine” distinction, The Heritage was featured in a webinar series called “Flourishing Communities” which aired on March 27 [Flourishing Communities: The Heritage Memory Life Community – On-demand webinar – TY (lifeloop.com) ] The webinar featured perspectives from Greco and Stephanie Deecher, Assistant Administrator at The Heritage.

Loretto is the only community in New York State – and one of only two places in the Northeast – to be recognized among LifeLoop’s 2023 Communities That Shine. LifeLoop selected 12 winners from dozens of nominations received from all over the country.

“These winners do the important job of illustrating how vibrant and fulfilling resident life is at senior living communities across the nation,” said Paige Mantel, Chief Marketing Officer at LifeLoop. “And it’s due to the passionate and dedicated staff who care for them.”

The full list of award recipients is provided here. For more information about the Communities That Shine award recipients – and what makes them shine – please visit LifeLoop’s award website.

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About Loretto

Loretto is a leader in comprehensive healthcare services in Central New York. As the fourth largest healthcare provider and the sixth largest employer in the region, the 2,500 exceptional people at Loretto’s 19 locations deliver extraordinary care to close to 10,000 people of all ages, income levels, and care needs in Onondaga and Cayuga counties each year. From adult day programs and short-term rehabilitation to the home-like settings in its assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities, Loretto is actively investing in its employees, in medical research, and in new technologies to improve care in our community, Making Every Day Extraordinary. Loretto: exceptional people. Extraordinary care.

About The Heritage

The Heritage is one of four Loretto secured memory care communities that offers senior living accommodations and 24/7 monitoring to ensure resident safety. Established in 1926, The Heritage is known for being one of the first residential communities in Central New York dedicated to providing care for those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and/or dementia and features 79 private apartments, large activity lounges, and an expansive courtyard and patio. Loretto employees are specially trained to care for those with memory care concerns, and innovative programming is available to address each resident’s physical, emotional, and social needs. To learn more about The Heritage, visit The Heritage Memory Life Community | Loretto (lorettocny.org)

About LifeLoop

LifeLoop was founded with a singular goal: to help senior living communities flourish. Our passion for harnessing technology to improve people’s lives has made us the leading senior living software provider for the largest and most diverse population of senior living communities today. Our comprehensive platform provides solutions that help residents thrive by delivering a more holistic approach to enriching the resident experience, not just through engaging content, but also through empowering the staff who support them and facilitating connections with their families – making senior care exceptional for everyone. To learn how LifeLoop helps communities flourish, please visit LifeLoop.com.

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