Funding disclosure
This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $18,228,216 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $4,941,389 amount with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
A ROOM FOR MEMORY
More than a room.
In New Orleans, the living room has always been more than a room. In the shotgun houses and Creole cottages that shaped this city's neighborhoods, the front room was where families gathered, where photographs and heirlooms lined the walls, where neighbors were welcomed in, and where stories were passed down from one generation to the next. It was the heart of the home — a place of hospitality, memory, and connection.
The Living Room Model draws on that tradition. Here, the living room becomes a space where people living with dementia can reconnect with the sights, sounds, and stories of the culture that shaped them — through music, photographs, and conversation, just as it always has been done in New Orleans homes.
The program
Program Days
Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Every 3rd Saturday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
The Living Room Model & Museum of Memories
Offers culturally grounded dementia respite through a rotating monthly exhibit experience rooted in the rich history and traditions of New Orleans and South Louisiana. Each month brings a new cultural theme — from Mardi Gras Indians and Jazz Fest to Roman Candy and Saints season — brought to life through talking photo albums, sensory objects, music cues, and facilitated reminiscence prompts.
WHO WE ARE
Led by a team rooted in care.
The Living Room Model & Museum of Memories is a program of Pillar Homecare, LLC, led by Dr. Tamara White Lee, DNP, MBA, RN. Pillar Homecare is a licensed home and community-based services agency serving families across the greater New Orleans area.
Monthly Theme: Saints Season Kickoff
Exhibit Element | Details |
|---|---|
Talking Photo Album | Photos of Tulane Stadium, the Superdome opening, Saints legends, and game-
day memory. |
Sensory Objects | Black & gold pompoms, replica jersey fabric, foam finger, popcorn scent |
Music Cue | "When the Saints Go Marching In" — traditional brass band version |
Facilitated Prompts | Did you ever attend a Saints game? Who was your favorite player? Who did you
watch games with? |