Your mother still enjoys lunch with friends. She has opinions about the menu, looks forward to activities, and wants to join the conversation. But getting the day started has become harder. She may miss an appointment or need help organizing the steps of a familiar task.

You can see how much she still enjoys and how much she can do for herself. You can also see where she needs more help. Finding support that respects both can leave a family unsure where to turn.

Rooted by Ciela was created for older adults in this position. Launched in September 2026 at our boutique senior living community in Pacific Palisades, Rooted provides additional cognitive structure and stimulation for residents who remain active and socially engaged. It fills the gap between traditional assisted living and secured memory care, helping residents participate in community life with support tailored to their needs.

Read Ciela’s Rooted program announcement.

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When everyday tasks become harder to organize

Cognitive changes do not look the same for everyone. A person may enjoy conversation and remain physically capable, yet struggle to follow a schedule or start something they know how to do.

These abilities involve executive function, the thinking skills we use to plan, order steps, and get started. When those skills become harder to use, a familiar routine can take more effort. Someone may want to join an activity but lose track of when it starts. Once there, they may participate comfortably.

Rooted offers guidance during these parts of the day, along with specialized activities designed to stimulate cognition. A prompt, a predictable routine, or help moving from one activity to another can help a resident stay involved.

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Staying part of life at Ciela

Residents in Rooted continue enjoying Ciela’s dining, wellness programming, and social life. The program adds support around the relationships and experiences they already value.

That might mean help getting a morning routine underway, working out what comes next, or reconnecting with an activity that has become difficult to begin alone. Assistance is shaped around the individual, with room for residents to make choices and do what they can for themselves.

For a family, that distinction matters. Needing more guidance shouldn't mean overlooking the friendships, interests, and abilities that still make a parent’s day.

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A small group with individualized support

Rooted brings a small group of residents together each day with a trained Rooted program coordinator. This setting gives the coordinator opportunities to learn each person’s routines and identify where guidance is most helpful.

The program follows five principles, applied to each resident’s needs:

•Structure gives the day a predictable rhythm, making routines easier to follow.

•Guidance provides prompts and assistance when getting started or moving to the next step becomes difficult.

•Growth encourages continued learning and participation through cognitive, creative, and physical activities.

•Autonomy means offering the least intrusive assistance needed, so residents can continue doing as much as possible for themselves.

•Belonging keeps residents connected to the wider Ciela community and the people they enjoy spending time with.

Together, these principles guide how we offer support throughout the day. A resident who needs help beginning an activity may need very little assistance once engaged.

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Activities with a purpose

Rooted offers a carefully planned schedule that includes neurological music therapy, creative programs, dual-task cognitive activities, balance work, and physical movement. Support with routines and daily sequencing helps residents follow the schedule.

The activities provide cognitive stimulation while giving residents opportunities to pursue interests and spend time together. The coordinator’s guidance helps make participation manageable for someone who might otherwise struggle to organize the day independently.

Rooted’s goals are to support functional independence, encourage continued intellectual, physical, and creative engagement, and sustain residents’ connections to their community. Those goals allow for different abilities and kinds of participation.

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How Rooted fits between assisted living and memory care

Assisted living provides help with daily needs such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. MedlinePlus offers an overview of assisted living for families learning about this level of care.

Memory care at Ciela, referred to as Bloom, provides specialized support in a secured setting for people living with dementia and related cognitive conditions.

Rooted is intended for residents who benefit from more cognitive structure and stimulation. Understanding the fit starts with the person’s daily life: what they manage comfortably, where they struggle, and what support they need to participate safely. If those needs change, the conversation about care should change with them.

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Keeping healthcare and daily support connected

If you notice new or worsening changes in a parent’s thinking, memory, or behavior, speak with their healthcare professional. The Alzheimer’s Association’s information about mild cognitive impairment explains why these changes deserve evaluation.

Rooted provides daily support and engagement. A medical evaluation helps families understand what may be causing the change and what clinical care may be needed. With your parent’s permission, sharing relevant medical guidance with Ciela can help connect that care to everyday support.

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Exploring Rooted with your family

It can be hard to decide when to seek more help, especially when your parent still enjoys much of their usual life. You do not need to have settled on a care category before starting a conversation.

At Ciela, we welcome the details that help us understand your parent. What do they look forward to? Which parts of the day have become frustrating? Where would they welcome assistance? Include them in the conversation as fully as possible. Their preferences matter in deciding what comes next.

Contact Ciela to learn about Rooted’s availability, assessment process, and costs, or to arrange a visit with your family. We can talk through your parent's support needs and how Rooted fits into life at Ciela.

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Questions families often ask.

Who is Rooted designed for

Rooted is designed for older adults who remain active and socially engaged but benefit from cognitive structure, specialized activities, and executive-function guidance. Individual needs determine whether the program is appropriate.

Is Rooted the same as memory care

Rooted offers additional cognitive support while residents continue participating in the broader Ciela community. Bloom Memory Care provides specialized support in a secure setting for residents who need that level of care.

Does someone need a specific diagnosis?

Rooted’s support is based on individual need rather than a diagnosis alone. A conversation with the Ciela team can help your family understand how your parent’s abilities and daily support needs fit the program.

What happens if a resident needs more support

Ciela offers assisted living, Bloom memory care, and Rooted. If a resident’s needs change, the team can discuss the available care options with the resident and family. The appropriate next step depends on the person’s needs at that time.

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