Aspire for Well-Being® Memory Support Grounded in Dignity Purpose and Meaningful Engagement

At The Highlands at Wyomissing®, memory support is grounded in dignity, purpose, and meaningful engagement. In our Aspire for Well-Being® Memory Support households, residents receive personalized care in a nurturing, homelike environment that honors each resident, who they are and where they have been. The program’s foundation is based on the internationally recognized Hearthstone Institute’s evidence-based approach to memory care with The Highlands being one of two communities in Pennsylvania that has earned the distinction of Hearthstone Center of Excellence.  All Highlands team members are specially trained through Hearthstone’s I’m Still Here® method, which focuses on creating moments of success, maintaining a sense of independence, and nurturing emotional connection. Rather than seeing a diagnosis first, staff are trained to see the person, their preferences, their history, and their spirit, and to tailor their care accordingly.

Caregivers approach each individual with curiosity and empathy, understanding that what works for one resident may not work for another. As one team member shared, “They might have dementia, but they are all individuals. You have to know each person to support them in a way that’s meaningful.”

Another added, “I see residents as my grandparents. I like to make their day easier and be that bright light in their day.”

This person-centered model guides every aspect of daily life in memory support. Residents are not only assisted with personal care, but they are also invited to take part in thoughtfully designed activities that promote joy, movement, and mental stimulation. Daily routines include music classes, where residents dance, sing, and keep the beat with drumsticks, as well as group walks, creative art projects, puzzle work, and games. Regular clubs like book club, a baking club, church group, Thirsty Thursday, and group exercise offer residents connection and consistency.

And the Highlands’ philosophy of meaningful connection extends beyond staff. Residents in Independent Living often play a vital role in uplifting those living in higher levels of care. A resident-led ukulele club visits residents in memory support monthly, inspiring singalongs and joyful participation. Others lead drumming sessions or perform classical music and piano concerts, bringing comfort and beauty through familiar melodies.

One resident leads a weekly book club in Memory Support, thoughtfully choosing themes that spark engaging conversation. “Our beloved residents in Memory Support are still here,” she shared. “They are just living in different quarters now, and the trick is to meet them where they are.”

Other independent living residents host monthly men’s discussion groups or offer spiritual guidance through weekly Rosary and church services. Intergenerational-style connections within the community demonstrate the deep respect The Highlands places on supporting the full person, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

This is the heart of Aspire Memory Support: a shared commitment to honoring the individuality of each resident, building relationships through presence and purpose, and creating a community where every person, at every stage of life, is seen, valued, and included.

The Highlands at Wyomissing currently has one opening in Aspire for Well-Being Memory Support. For more information please call us at 610-775-2300 to speak with one of our knowledgeable Life Plan Advisors, or visit https://www.thehighlands.org/aspire-memory-support to learn more.