Memory Care

Sunrise was a pioneer in memory care, launching the region’s first dedicated memory care community in the early 1990s. Today the Bernstein Center and Sunlight Center feature suites especially designed for seniors with memory care needs — and separate from the general health center. Each offers a homelike atmosphere and a 24-hour professional nursing staff that makes residents and families feel safe and comfortable. And our common areas (both inside and outside) provide a wonderful environment for family visits and informal gatherings.

For seniors with memory care, as well as their families, Sunrise maintains the health and dignity of each senior through planned activities, music and memory therapies, opportunities to spend time in Gussie's Garden, and a variety of essential services — all delivered by highly qualified care providers who love their work.

A Pioneer in Memory Care

In 1992, Sunrise addressed a growing community need by building the Sunlight Center — a 16-room facility specially designed to accommodate residents with dementia-related disorders. The Sunlight Center featured a cutting-edge design with private rooms located around the perimeter of a spacious common area. This open concept was better suited to the needs of residents with dementia than most traditional floor plans — and Sunrise was the first to introduce this innovative approach to Siouxland. To address additional community needs, Sunrise built the Bernstein Center, an 18-room facility that was completed in 1996. It is interesting to note that many institutions throughout Iowa chose to build similar facilities after seeing the success of Sunrise Retirement's memory care neighborhoods.