Receiving a dementia diagnosis is life-altering, not just for the individual, but for everyone who loves them. It brings fear, grief, questions, and, above all, a deep desire to preserve the person behind the diagnosis.
At Kensington Place Redwood City, dementia care is guided by more than good intentions, it’s powered by a proven, human-centered method known as the Positive Approach to Care (PAC).
Developed by internationally respected dementia educator Teepa Snow, the PAC philosophy empowers caregivers with the skills and mindset to truly connect with individuals living with cognitive change.
Kensington Place Redwood City is proud to have a PAC-certified team leading the way, providing care that is not only clinically sound but emotionally intelligent.
Understanding the Positive Approach to Care
The Positive Approach to Care is more than a training, it’s a way of seeing and engaging with people living with dementia. It focuses on connection, understanding the impact of changing brain function, and adjusting communication to meet individuals where they are in the moment.
This method shifts the narrative from “what’s wrong” to “what’s possible.” Instead of focusing on what a person has lost, PAC emphasizes their remaining strengths and how to support them with dignity and creativity.
Certification in PAC means that care team members are trained to respond to behavioral changes with patience, recognize different stages of dementia through body language and engagement, and offer support that builds trust rather than confusion.
What It Means for Residents and Families
When a loved one moves into memory care, families often carry both emotional and practical concerns. Will they be understood? Will their unique history and personality be honored, not forgotten?
At Kensington Place Redwood City, PAC-certified care means those questions are answered with a resounding yes. Team members are taught to learn each resident’s personal story, not just medical history, but the routines, preferences, and passions that have shaped their life.
This translates into real, everyday moments of connection: a familiar song played during morning routines, a specific way of being greeted, or an understanding of when silence offers more than words. These interactions might seem small, but they preserve dignity and build trust over time.
Care That Evolves with the Person
Dementia is not static. As a progressive condition, it changes how a person communicates, moves, and experiences the world. The PAC framework provides tools to recognize those changes early and adjust care accordingly.
Whether it’s adapting how meals are served, changing the pace of a conversation, or supporting different mobility levels, the goal is to remain in sync with the person’s needs. This flexible approach prevents frustration, minimizes agitation, and helps residents feel safer and more seen.
At Kensington Place Redwood City, two distinct memory care neighborhoods provide residents with personalized care tailored to their current stage of dementia, offering the ideal balance of stimulation, structure, and calm.
Explore Our Memory Care Neighborhoods
Empowering Communication and Connection
Communication can become a major hurdle in dementia care. Words may falter, but expression never fully disappears.
PAC training equips caregivers to recognize and respond to the various ways a person may communicate, through facial expressions, gestures, mood shifts, or pacing.
Using PAC techniques, caregivers approach interactions with warmth and curiosity rather than correction. Instead of redirecting with force, they guide with presence and empathy. This approach not only reduces behavioral challenges but also fosters emotional security.
In this environment, residents are more likely to engage, laugh, participate, and express themselves in meaningful ways.
Enriching Daily Life Through Purposeful Engagement
At Kensington Place Redwood City, dementia care includes far more than safety and supervision. It includes engagement, enrichment, and the freedom to enjoy life’s simple joys.
PAC principles are woven into the community’s activities and enrichment programs. Whether it’s music therapy, painting, gardening, or movement-based exercises, every opportunity is tailored to each resident’s abilities and preferences. That means offering just enough challenge to spark interest without overwhelming, and always allowing the resident to lead the pace.
These small moments of purpose, a puzzle piece placed just right, a flower arrangement admired, a lyric remembered, build confidence and joy, even in the midst of cognitive change.
Families as Partners in Care
Families are not left outside the circle of care. Kensington Place Redwood City encourages family participation through education, communication, and emotional support.
Understanding the principles of PAC helps families connect more effectively with their loved ones during visits, phone calls, and conversations.
Our community guides navigating challenging moments with grace and sharing time in ways that feel meaningful.
Knowing your loved one is cared for with a method that prioritizes emotional connection provides comfort that goes beyond what words can express.
A Foundation of Compassion and Expertise
PAC certification is more than a credential, it’s a commitment. It means the team at Kensington Place Redwood City is constantly refining their understanding of dementia and exploring new ways to support those in their care.
This foundation fosters a culture where compassion and expertise are inextricably linked.
The entire community, from leadership to daily care partners, operates with a shared understanding of what it means to support someone living with cognitive change.
It also means that the community remains open to learning and growth. Continuing education, hands-on coaching, and regular feedback ensure that care remains current, customized, and consistent.
Living Beyond the Diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis does not define a person. At Kensington Place Redwood City, each resident is viewed as a whole individual with a lifetime of memories, values, and personality traits that continue to matter.
The Positive Approach to Care provides the tools to maintain those qualities, continuing to celebrate them, even as cognitive abilities change. The result is a life filled not with limitations, but with moments of joy, understanding, and grace.
And at the heart of it all is Our Promise: to love and care for your family as we do our own.
To learn how PAC-trained care at Kensington Place Redwood City can support your loved one, contact us today. We’re here to help.