Peconic Landing has added another national honor to its growing list — this time for a program that uses reading, writing and simple math to help people with dementia stay engaged and keep their minds active.

Harbor South, the Greenport retirement community’s memory support neighborhood, is the first in New York and one of only six communities nationwide designated a model community by the SAIDO Learning Institute, Peconic Landing announced this week.

Developed in Japan, SAIDO pairs participants with trained supporters for five 30-minute sessions each week. Staff track progress through standardized assessments, individual goals and direct observation.

Harbor South introduced the program in early 2025 and has since trained 22 supporters, including Peconic Landing employees and independent living residents.

During the program’s first 18 months, several participants maintained stable cognitive scores while others showed measurable improvement, according to Peconic Landing. Staff also reported brighter moods, greater engagement and renewed interest in hobbies among some participants.

“SAIDO focuses on each individual’s abilities rather than their diagnosis, which aligns with our philosophy of person-centered care,” Peconic Landing health services director Jennifer Drofenik said in the release.

Harbor South earned the designation after meeting 20 standards covering leadership involvement, staff training, individualized care plans and participant outcomes.

The recognition continues a banner year for Peconic Landing. President and CEO Robert Syron received LeadingAge New York’s top award for service and leadership in aging services in May.

Peconic Landing was also named one of the country’s top five senior living communities for wellness for the second consecutive year, while Mr. Syron ranked among the nation’s top five wellness executives. The Bluffs short-term rehabilitation center and The Shores skilled nursing facility also ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s best nursing homes for 2026.

Harbor South serves people in the early to middle stages of memory loss and accepts direct admissions from across Long Island. It also offers short-term respite stays.

Peconic Landing will host an open house at Harbor South Thursday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. Visitors can tour the neighborhood, meet staff and learn more about its approach to dementia care.

More information is available at peconiclanding.org/memory-support.

The post Peconic Landing earns national honor for dementia care program appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

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