Dr. Raj Kalra, Founder, Owner & Physician at Aroha Memory Care by MD Senior Wellness, has been named a 2025 Memory Care Innovation Award winner 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.
Kalra sat down with Senior Housing News to share his journey caring for patients and residents with cognitive care needs, his thoughts on the future of cognitive care in senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Memory Care Innovation Awards program and view this year’s winners, visit https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.
SHN: How long have you been a part of the senior housing & senior living industry?
Kalra: I’ve been a physician since 2009, but my journey into senior living began about five years ago when my mom got sick. That experience completely changed the way I viewed aging and the senior living industry.
As a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Obesity Medicine, I’ve worked extensively with older adults facing physical and cognitive decline. Creating Aroha felt like a natural extension of my medical practice — applying evidence-based wellness principles to help seniors thrive during their most vulnerable years.
SHN: What drew you to caring for patients/residents with cognitive care needs?
Kalra: My passion came from personal experience. Watching family members struggle with dementia showed me how fragmented the system can be — medical care on one side, daily living on another. I wanted to bridge that gap.
Memory care shouldn’t just manage decline; it should help people live with dignity, purpose, and connection. Aroha was built to show that science and compassion can coexist beautifully.
SHN: If you could change one thing about cognitive care in the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be?
Kalra: I’d shift the focus from managing symptoms to enhancing well-being. Too often, care is reactive — focused on what’s lost instead of what remains. Through lifestyle medicine, we emphasize six pillars of health: movement, nutrition, stress management, restorative sleep, social connection, and purpose. These evidence-based habits can reverse mild cognitive dysfunction and slow further decline. Dementia isn’t the end of living — there’s still so much joy and meaning to experience.
SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will most impact your ability to provide cognitive care in the senior housing & senior living industry in the next five years?
Kalra: Technology and data will transform how we personalize care. Real-time monitoring, AI-assisted insights, and engagement platforms will help us track outcomes more effectively. But the real value comes from using that information to strengthen human connection — not replace it.
SHN: If you could describe cognitive care in the senior housing & senior living industry in one word, what would it be and why?
Kalra: Human.
At its core, memory care is about honoring humanity — the stories, emotions, and small daily rituals that define who we are. Technology and design matter, but compassion and presence are what turn a building into a home.
SHN: What’s been the biggest lesson you have learned throughout your career?
Kalra: Culture is the foundation of care. The best environments are built on shared values — respect, curiosity, and kindness. When your team feels connected to a mission, residents and families feel it too. People may forget what you say, but they never forget how you made them feel. At Aroha, we want every resident and family to feel heard, cared for, and loved.
SHN: If you could give yourself advice on the first day in the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be and why?
Kalra: Be patient. Innovation in senior living takes time, persistence, and empathy. The systems are complex, and meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. Stay focused on your “why” — improving quality of life for older adults — and every challenge becomes part of the mission.
SHN: In your opinion, what qualities should all Memory Care Innovation Award winners possess?
Kalra: Authenticity, courage, and collaboration. Innovation isn’t about technology or trends — it’s about taking bold, compassionate action to improve lives. The best leaders listen, challenge conventions with heart and humility, and never lose sight of the people they serve.
The post Memory Care Innovation Award Winner: Dr. Raj Kalra, Founder, Owner & Physician, Aroha Memory Care by MD Senior Wellness appeared first on Senior Housing News.
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