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The Cordwainer in Norwell reimagines how individuals requiring dementia care can live and thrive.
The Learned EnvironmentSM
Our unique dementia therapy programming, The Learned Environment℠, is curated to stimulate the brain while fostering learning through music, art and foreign language.
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Art
Art projects can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose and offer residents an opportunity for self-expression. Each day residents have an opportunity to draw, paint, or participate in crafts – all designed to stimulate creativity, provide therapeutic value, and explore, retain, or spark artistic skills.
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Music
It’s been widely studied that music can be therapeutic for individuals living with dementia and may reduce agitation and behavioral challenges. Our curriculum offers opportunities to listen to music or use various instruments to create music as a method to connect, relax, or encourage movement, even after verbal communication becomes difficult. Music can trigger musical memories, allowing our residents to tap into memories they have long forgotten.
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Language
For all of us, learning a foreign language exercises your brain, challenges you to concentrate and boosts key problem-solving skills – and studies have found it can delay memory loss. Tapping into this knowledge, our curriculum (and our daily activities), introduce phrases, words, songs, numerals in foreign languages to help stimulate resident brain function.
Art
Art projects can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose and offer residents an opportunity for self-expression. Each day residents have an opportunity to draw, paint, or do crafts – all designed to stimulate creativity, provide therapeutic value, and explore, retain, or spark artistic skills.
Music
It’s been widely studied that music can be therapeutic for individuals with dementias and may reduce agitation and behavioral challenges. Our curriculum offers opportunities to listen to music or use various instruments to create music as a method to connect, relax, or encourage movement, even after verbal communication becomes difficult.
Language
For all of us, learning a foreign language exercises your brain, challenges you to concentrate and boosts key problem-solving skills – and studies have found it can delay memory loss. Tapping into this knowledge, our curriculum (and our daily activities), introduce phrases, words, songs, numerals in foreign languages to help stimulate resident brain function.
Designed with the latest research in memory care, The Cordwainer provides a caring and inclusive living environment for people with cognitive challenges and special care requirements related to dementia.”
Tamilyn and Bodo Liesenfeld
Founders
Meet Our Team
Maria Lastoria
Executive Director
Maria has a passion for enriching the lives of seniors. For 30 years, she has been recognized for outstanding work in several executive director roles within assisted living, memory care, and luxury independent living communities in New England. Most recently she was named Executive Director of the Year by the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association. READ MORE »
Kimberly Bythrow
Resident Care Director
As a specialist in Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Kimberly uses her 25 years of experience in senior living and geriatric nursing to monitor the health of our residents and coordinate with physicians, home health agencies, and families regarding their care. She also provides staff training and oversight as needed in all aspects of resident care. READ MORE »
Sean Robinson
Culinary Director
An entrepreneur at heart, Sean has run three South Shore restaurants. His real passion, though, is using healthy ingredients to cook for seniors to enhance their lives. Sean holds an associate degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University and is ServSafe and Allergen Awareness certified and a member of the American Culinary Federation. READ MORE »
Shari Flight
Director of Community Relations
Shari’s passion for memory care helps her to build positive relationships in the community assisting families exploring their options for loved ones. She holds a master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Gerontology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, she often presents on dementia topics locally and she co-hosts our monthly support group. READ MORE »
Kelly Richards
Sales Director
Kelly has been working in senior living locally for over 20 years, specifically in assisted living and long-term care. She prides herself on providing a high level of customer service to seniors and their families as they explore their options in assisted living memory care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has a background and degree in respiratory therapy. READ MORE »
Somita Ray
Program Director
Somita helps residents enjoy overall wellness through daily programs and activities using her 25 years of experience in senior living. She is a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner with a Bachelor’s in Science and Education. She also co-hosts the monthly support group for Norwell-area families with a loved one living with dementia at home. READ MORE »
Amanda Fuller
Human Resources Director
Amanda’s ability to successfully manage multiple priorities with a positive attitude comes from over 15 years of experience as an emergency medical technician, working in human resources, payroll processing, and recruiting and training new staff members. She also oversees the annual in-service training required by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. READ MORE »
Lisa Morrissey
Business Director
Lisa’s 28 years of experience working in senior living overseeing all administrative operations like accounting and payroll, lease agreements, and training reception staff is the glue that holds everything together. She has an associate degree in business administration and is skilled at training department managers to efficiently manage their budgets. READ MORE »
Cory Murphy
Maintenance Director
Cory keeps things running smoothly and residents safe and comfortable using his education and experience overseeing maintenance throughout the community and managing facility contractors. He is a graduate of Bay State School of Technology and has advanced training in almost all aspects of maintenance for memory care communities. READ MORE »
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Meet Our Team
Maria Lastoria
Executive Director
Maria has a passion for enriching the lives of seniors. For 30 years, she has been recognized for outstanding work in several executive director roles within assisted living, memory care, and luxury independent living communities in New England. Most recently she was named Executive Director of the Year by the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association. READ MORE »
Kimberly Bythrow
Resident Care Director
As a specialist in Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Kimberly uses her 25 years of experience in senior living and geriatric nursing to monitor the health of our residents and coordinate with physicians, home health agencies, and families regarding their care. She also provides staff training and oversight as needed in all aspects of resident care. READ MORE »
Sean Robinson
Culinary Director
An entrepreneur at heart, Sean has run three South Shore restaurants. His real passion, though, is using healthy ingredients to cook for seniors to enhance their lives. Sean holds an associate degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University and is ServSafe and Allergen Awareness certified and a member of the American Culinary Federation. READ MORE »
Shari Flight
Director of Community Relations
Shari’s passion for memory care helps her to build positive relationships in the community assisting families exploring their options for loved ones. She holds a master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Gerontology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, she often presents on dementia topics locally and she co-hosts our monthly support group. READ MORE »
Kelly Richards
Sales Director
Kelly has been working in senior living locally for over 20 years, specifically in assisted living and long-term care. She prides herself on providing a high level of customer service to seniors and their families as they explore their options in assisted living memory care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has a background and degree in respiratory therapy. READ MORE »
Somita Ray
Program Director
Somita helps residents enjoy overall wellness through daily programs and activities using her 25 years of experience in senior living. She is a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner with a Bachelor’s in Science and Education. She also co-hosts the monthly support group for Norwell-area families with a loved one living with dementia at home. READ MORE »
Amanda Fuller
Human Resources Director
Amanda’s ability to successfully manage multiple priorities with a positive attitude comes from over 15 years of experience as an emergency medical technician, working in human resources, payroll processing, and recruiting and training new staff members. She also oversees the annual in-service training required by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. READ MORE »
Lisa Morrissey
Business Director
Lisa’s 28 years of experience working in senior living overseeing all administrative operations like accounting and payroll, lease agreements, and training reception staff is the glue that holds everything together. She has an associate degree in business administration and is skilled at training department managers to efficiently manage their budgets. READ MORE »
Cory Murphy
Maintenance Director
Cory keeps things running smoothly and residents safe and comfortable using his education and experience overseeing maintenance throughout the community and managing facility contractors. He is a graduate of Bay State School of Technology and has advanced training in almost all aspects of maintenance for memory care communities. READ MORE »
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Care and Enjoyment
To be truly effective, memory care assisted living requires specially trained team members and services tailored to each resident’s needs. Carefully designed programming and services offering enjoyment and comfort for residents are at the heart of our community.
Discover Our Story
The idea for The Cordwainer memory care has been in planning for years. Innovative concepts and best practices from around the nation and across the pond in the U.K. and Europe, are integrated into our design and programming to create the most leading-edge memory care assisted living community for our residents.
