The Memory Center at Willow Valley Communities will create moments of joy

Long-standing hallmarks of traditional memory care settings are being replaced by destinations and programmatic elements that will set a new standard for supportive communities. 

At the Marlin and Doris Thomas Memory Center, a grocery store, salon, greenhouse, and prominent Town Center will provide residents the option to self-engage in lifelong social routines within the safety of the built environment. Residents visiting the grocery store will be able to grab a snack or stock up on personal favorites for their household, and those craving a little extra pampering will be able to visit the salon as they please. Residents with a green thumb will be able to tend the garden in partnership with others from the greater community and incorporate the fruits of their labor into their menu. And for those who just enjoy people watching, the Town Center will offer a comfortable place to observe activity. 

Opportunities to enjoy the small pleasures of daily life will be peppered throughout the campus and will offer visitors an alternative to the dreaded edge-of-the-bed visit that is typical in a nursing community. A sit-down restaurant, resembling an American pub, will provide additional opportunity for friends and family to extend their visit in a familiar, relaxed atmosphere. Those who prefer a more active visit will be able to stroll the meandering paths around the seven-acre campus, head over to a club meeting, or bring the great-grandkids along for an intergenerational trip to the onsite playground. The Town Center, in addition to places for spectating, will offer vibrant activities that are sure to inspire smiles, dancing, and laughter with live music and performances, ice cream and refreshment carts, and pop-up social gatherings—all designed to be enjoyed by residents and their guests. 

Some residents will prefer a quieter visit, and their guests will be welcomed into residents’ homes and invited to participate in the activities of the household. Relaxing in the living room as they enjoy a cup of coffee, baking a favorite family recipe in the kitchen, playing a game in the den, or reminiscing on the patio—these are the quiet moments when the touch of a hand may bring the greatest feeling of joy and belonging. 

A family meal, a glimmer of hope, a fleeting moment when a memory from long ago is remembered with joy—these are the simple pleasures that will define life at the Memory Center. 

The moments of joy that will exist in these spaces are the driving force behind Willow Valley Communities’ desire to provide a better way and transform the lives of those affected by dementia. In addition, the Marlin and Doris Thomas Memory Center aims to reduce stigma and increase the social involvement of family and friends—bringing a feeling of normalcy to the care environment and bolstering the informal support system. 

A sense of belonging will echo throughout the built environment as meaningful activities foster freedom of choice and connectedness. The common threads of daily routines and social norms will be revered as the guiding principles of the Memory Center, ensuring that the people living with dementia are seen and treated as competent, capable members of the community who are still able to exercise their independence through a variety of life’s pleasures. 

Construction is well underway, and donors will celebrate a Beam Signing Ceremony in spring 2025 as construction continues. Willow Valley Communities looks forward to an anticipated opening in spring 2026 and opening to the greater Lancaster community in the summer. 

If you or your loved one have been impacted by dementia and memory loss, you can find opportunities to support the Memory Center as well as resources and information at Foundation.WillowValleyCommunities.org. 

Want to discover more local? Follow Fig on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration.