While the dual "Best" designation is an impressive honor, the community’s Reminiscence Neighborhood— its specialized memory care program—achieved something truly extraordinary.
The senior living community in Scottsdale, Arizona earned top accolades across all five evaluated memory care subcategories, as reflected in its U.S. News Best Senior Living profile:
- Management & Staff
- Caregiving
- Activities & Enrichment
- Feels Like Home
- Food & Dining
To celebrate this milestone during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month this June, we sat down with the community team to discover the dedication behind this incredible achievement, and what sets this memory care community in Scottsdale apart.
A Foundation of Trust and Tenured Leadership
When the results were released, the immediate reaction throughout the community was a profound sense of pride across the award-winning memory care team in Scottsdale. "The team works very hard," says Faith Vaughn, Reminiscence Coordinator. "It is the frontline team that makes what we have here very special."
That special connection is rooted in a level of stability and tenure, found in many Sunrise communities. Faith has led the team for 18 years, and many of her team members have followed closely behind, marking 5, 10, and 15 years of dedicated service at Sunrise of Scottsdale. This remarkable tenure is proudly displayed on a service board near the entrance, serving as the very first thing visiting families notice.
"It makes a tremendous difference when you build the same team for so many years," Faith explains. "It just builds more trust. The families see that involvement, and it gives them a warm feeling."
Loving Residents for Who They Are Today
At the heart of the community's Caregiving accolade is a philosophy centered on meeting residents exactly where they are, a defining feature of personalized memory care in Scottsdale. The team understands that memory loss changes family dynamics, and they are dedicated to supporting the entire family through the journey.
"A lot of times families tell us, 'That's not my mother' or 'That's not my husband,'" says Faith. "But what this team knows is when they walk into our neighborhood, this is who they are now. We take that and we build on that. We accept them and love them for who they are now, and we help the families recognize that and walk this new journey with them."
This individualized approach requires deep trust. Resident Care Director Zenaida Contreras also highlighted how care managers, medication techs, and leadership work side by side to adjust to each resident's changing needs. The answer from the frontline team is not "no," but "how can we make this work?"
Restaurant-Style Dining That Elevates Memory Care
The Food & Dining accolade reflects a culinary experience that prioritizes dignity and preference, an essential part of exceptional memory care in our Scottsdale community. Because navigating standard menus can sometimes feel overwhelming for individuals with dementia, the dining team prints specialized daily menus featuring clear color photographs and just two intentional choices.
The teams are fully involved in every single mealtime, treating breakfast, lunch, and dinner like premium restaurant service.
"Meals are a big part of their day, and they look forward to them," Activities and Volunteer Coordinator Sherry notes. "We set the tables and we want them to look nice. We want the napkins to be folded in a pretty way, and the drinks to be in the right place. We are very fussy about our table settings because the residents deserve to walk in and feel like it’s a big deal."
From pouring continuous refills to accommodating advanced texture needs with customized, nutritious shakes, the team ensures dining remains a highlight of the day. They also ensure the community's favorite treat is always stocked. "We cannot run out of ice cream," Faith laughs, noting that espresso chip and mint chocolate chip are frequent crowd favorites.
Meaningful Innovation and Breakthrough Moments in Memory Care
Sunrise of Scottsdale earned its Activities & Enrichment accolade by ensuring daily life is filled with true purpose rather than just filled time, reinforcing its approach to engaging memory care. The community recently launched an innovative conversation group pilot project designed to spark deep cognitive engagement and build confidence in small group settings.
Every week, the group tackles meaningful topics, from sharing childhood memories to discussing old neighbors and beloved past pets. The vulnerability has forged incredibly strong bonds within the neighborhood. "There are hugs, there are tears, and there's laughter," says Sherry. "They get to know each other better, which doesn't always happen in a senior care facility."
The power of these connections was beautifully on display just this week at the community’s Senior Prom 2026. Complete with live music from the 1950s and 60s, custom decorations, and cake, the event brought about a massive breakthrough for a typically reserved resident.
"We have a resident who doesn't really like to be around the other residents at all," the team shared. "But when the music started, she came in, started dancing, and was having so much fun with the staff and other residents. It looks like she is even making a new friend. Cracking her shell yesterday was a really big deal."
A Bright, Welcoming Place to Feel at Home
To capture the Feels Like Home accolade, the physical environment must match the warmth of the staff. The Reminiscence Neighborhood in Scottsdale is intentionally designed to be uniquely bright, filled with natural sunshine that is vital for our residents' well-being.
The space opens up to a beautiful garden where residents tend to vibrant flowers and grow tomatoes. On pleasant afternoons, families often gather in the courtyard with a glass of wine while Doobie Brothers concerts play in the background. The tables are always dressed with multicolored floral arrangements put together with care.
Adding to the true feeling of home is Marley, the community's 14-year-old poodle-terrier mix. Rescued from the local pound, Marley has grown up alongside the tenured staff. He remains the undisputed hit of the community, greeting families and instinctively providing quiet comfort to residents when they need it most.
A Legacy of Compassionate Memory Care
The true measure of Sunrise of Scottsdale's impact lies in the stories of the families who choose to step through our doors, who are often seeking trusted memory care. Faith recalls a resident named Mr. Moss, whose close friend lived in the Scottsdale Reminiscence neighborhood over a decade ago. Impressed by the dedication he witnessed all those years ago, Mr. Moss told his wife that if he ever needed memory care, he wanted that exact same team to look after him. Years later, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, he moved into the community, spending his days expressing his gratitude to the very team he had chosen years prior.
"When residents move to Reminiscence, it doesn't mean their life is over," Faith says. "It's just begun in a different way. We go out to eat once a week, we take them on scenic drives, to restaurants, and we adapt to whoever comes in. It is up to us to ensure they have a quality day. It's a lot of work, but it is such a privilege to do this for our residents."
We invite you to experience the award-winning warmth, dedication, and joy at Sunrise of Scottsdale first-hand. Schedule a tour of our memory care community in Scottsdale today to see what sets our neighborhood apart, or explore our senior living communities in Arizona to learn about nearby Sunrise locations. If you’re searching for a community outside of Arizona, you can use our locator to find a Sunrise Senior Living near you.