Lynn Lavallee, Chief Operating Officer at Omega Senior Living, has been named to the Memory Care Innovation Awards Class of 2026 by Senior Housing News.
The Memory Care Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize passionate and innovative industry members who are shaping the future of cognitive care across behavioral health, home health and home care, hospice and palliative care, senior housing and senior living, and skilled nursing. To become a Memory Care Innovation Award winner, an individual must be nominated by their peers. The candidate should be a high-performing employee who knows how to put vision into action, serving as an advocate for those living with memory-related disorders and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
Lavallee sat down with Senior Housing News to share her journey caring for patients and residents with cognitive care needs, her thoughts on the future of cognitive care in senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Memory Care Innovation Awards and view this year’s winners, visit https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.
SHN: How long have you been working in the senior housing & senior living industry, and what has your career journey looked like?
Lavallee: I have been working in the senior housing and senior living industry for more than 30 years. I began my career at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) as a Social Worker, where I developed a deep appreciation for serving older adults and supporting their quality of life.
Over the years, I advanced through a variety of leadership roles, gaining experience in operations, resident services, team development, and organizational management. Those opportunities allowed me to build a comprehensive understanding of the senior living industry from both the resident and business perspectives.
For the past 10 years, I have served as Chief Operating Officer of Omega Senior Living. I was the company’s first associate and had the unique opportunity to work alongside our CEO and founder in establishing and building the organization from the ground up. Being part of Omega’s growth journey has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I remain passionate about creating exceptional communities and services for seniors and their families.
SHN: What inspired you to focus on caring for individuals living with memory-related conditions?
Lavallee: My passion for caring for individuals living with memory-related conditions comes from a very personal experience. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia, and our family experienced firsthand the challenges, emotions, and responsibilities that come with supporting a loved one through the progression of the disease.
My father remained at home with my mother throughout his illness until he passed away. During that time, our entire family became deeply involved in his care. We worked together to support both of my parents, helping with caregiving responsibilities and providing respite for my mother so she could spend time with friends, run errands, and maintain some balance in her own life.
That experience gave me a profound appreciation for the impact memory loss has not only on the individual but also on their family and caregivers. It reinforced the importance of compassionate, person-centered care, meaningful engagement, and support systems for families navigating the dementia journey.
The lessons I learned through my father’s experience continue to influence my work today and inspire my commitment to creating environments where individuals living with dementia can thrive with dignity, purpose, and the highest quality of life possible.
SHN: If you could describe the current state of memory care in senior housing & senior living in one word, what would it be and why?
Lavallee: Evolving.
Memory care is continually evolving as our understanding of dementia and other memory-related conditions grows. The industry has moved beyond a purely clinical approach and is increasingly focused on person-centered care, specialized programming, environmental design, and purposeful engagement with purpose that supports everyone’s abilities and quality of life.
At the same time, providers are adapting to rising demand, changing resident acuity levels, workforce challenges, and advances in research and technology. Families today expect not only safe care, but also opportunities for their loved ones to maintain dignity and connection.
Having witnessed the impact dementia can have on individuals and families, both personally and professionally, I believe the evolution of memory care is essential. The goal is no longer simply to care for individuals living with memory loss, but to create environments where they can continue to live fulfilling lives with purpose, engagement, and connection while supporting the families who walk alongside them.
SHN: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career caring for individuals with cognitive needs?
Lavallee: The most important lesson I have learned in my career is that dementia changes a person’s abilities, but it does not diminish their humanity.
Throughout my more than 30 years in senior living, and through experiences that touched my own family, I have seen the profound impact that compassion, patience, and understanding can have on an individual’s quality of life. People living with cognitive impairment still have emotions, preferences, memories, and a deep need for connection, dignity, and purpose.
This lesson has shaped my approach to leadership and care. It reminds me that our responsibility is not simply to manage symptoms or provide services, but to truly see the person behind the diagnosis. When we focus on preserving dignity, honoring individual life stories, and creating meaningful moments each day, we can make a lasting difference for both residents and their families.
At the heart of memory care, the most meaningful work happens when we meet people where they are and help them continue to live with purpose, respect, and joy.
SHN: What is one change you would most like to see across the memory care landscape in senior housing & senior living today?
Lavallee: One change I would most like to see across the memory care landscape is a greater industry-wide commitment to truly individualized, person-centered care.
While significant progress has been made, there is still a tendency to focus on a resident’s diagnosis rather than their life story, preferences, abilities, and unique needs. Every person living with dementia has a different journey, and care should reflect not just the symptoms of their disease but who they are as individuals.
Throughout my career, I have seen that preserving dignity, purpose, and social connection throughout every stage of dementia leads to better experiences for both residents and their families.
I would like to see every memory care community embrace this philosophy consistently, ensuring that individuals living with memory loss are supported not only with excellent clinical care, but also with opportunities to continue living rich, purposeful, and engaging lives.
SHN: Looking ahead five years, what do you think will have the greatest impact on your ability to deliver innovative, high-quality cognitive care?
Lavallee: Looking ahead five years, I believe the greatest impact on our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality cognitive care will be the combination of a well-trained, engaged workforce and advancements in technology.
While technology will continue to transform memory care through predictive analytics, resident monitoring, personalized engagement tools, and improved communication with families, the heart of exceptional care will always be the people providing it. The ability to recruit, develop, and retain caregivers who are passionate about serving individuals living with dementia will be critical to our success.
At the same time, technology will help caregivers spend less time on administrative tasks and more time building relationships with residents. It will also provide valuable insights that allow us to better understand behaviors, identify changes in condition earlier, and personalize care in ways that were not previously possible.
Ultimately, the organizations that successfully combine compassionate, person-centered caregiving with innovative technology will be best positioned to enhance quality of life for residents, support families, and deliver the highest standard of cognitive care.
SHN: If you could give yourself advice on your first day serving the cognitive care needs of your senior housing & senior living residents, what would it be and why?
Lavallee: .Early in my career, I was eager to solve problems and find the “right” answers. Over time, I learned that caring for individuals living with dementia is less about correcting behaviors or managing symptoms and more about understanding the person behind them. Every resident has a unique life story, personal preferences, and experiences that continue to shape who they are, even as their cognitive abilities change.
My understanding of dementia began long before my professional career. My grandfather lived with our family when I was a child, and like many families at the time, we did not fully understand cognitive decline or how it affected behavior. Looking back, there were moments when greater knowledge and understanding would have helped us respond with more patience, empathy, and support. Those experiences taught me the importance of education, compassion, and meeting people where they are.
I would remind my younger self that there will be challenging days, but there will also be countless opportunities to make a difference through small acts of kindness and understanding. When you take the time to honor a person’s dignity, learn their story, and see the individual rather than the disease, you can have a lasting impact on their quality of life and on the families who love them.
SHN: In your view, what qualities define a Memory Care Innovation Award winner?
Lavallee: In my view, a Memory Care Innovation Award winner is defined by a blend of vision, compassion, and measurable impact.
First and foremost, they demonstrate a deep commitment to person-centered care. True innovators in memory care consistently move beyond task-based support and instead design experiences, environments, and programs that honor each individual’s history, preferences, and remaining abilities. Their work reflects a belief that people living with dementia can still experience joy, purpose, and connection.
Second, they bring forward-thinking innovation that is both practical and scalable. Whether through new care models, technology integration, environmental design, or staff development strategies, their ideas are not just creative—they are implementable and improve daily life for residents and caregivers alike.
Equally important is their ability to lead and inspire others. Memory care innovation is never the work of one person; it requires teams who are engaged, trained, and empowered. Award winners typically cultivate cultures of learning, empathy, and continuous improvement that elevate care across the entire organization.
Finally, the most meaningful innovators demonstrate measurable outcomes, including enhanced quality of life for residents, stronger family engagement, improved staff retention, and clearer clinical and emotional benefits.
Ultimately, a Memory Care Innovation Award winner is someone who challenges the status quo while never losing sight of the human experience at the center of memory care.