Why Serra Sol
Welcome to Serra Sol.
Serra Sol is a welcoming community where individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia can feel fulfilled, cared for and engaged each and every day. We provide an environment that fully supports the needs of those with memory loss. Residents of Serra Sol will enjoy daily activities and outings, many of which are customized to their specific interests and passions. We feel strongly that those with memory loss can live life to the fullest with our support.
We know that in order to provide a truly inspired life for residents in our care, it’s about much more than making sure a resident’s health-related needs are met. It’s about the little things that mean a lot. Warmhearted staff who know your loved one’s favorite activities. Comfortable routines that spark positive memories. Opportunities for fun, laughter and joy each day. A community that truly feels like home.
We select employees who exemplify the values we hold dear: empathy, professionalism, integrity, commitment and compassion. The leadership team at Serra Sol are the gatekeepers of our community culture and are tasked with ensuring that all in our community – residents, employees, resident family members and more – are treated like family.
What Families Are Saying
For more than 30 years, Agemark Senior Living communities have been helping families affected by Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia get the care and support they need. Here’s what our families have to say.
"I looked at more than a dozen care homes. This was the only place I felt happy about Mom living. Moving Mom from home was so very, very hard but so worth it! The emphasis here is on living life with dignity and as much joy as possible."
Leigh Ann
Daughter of a Resident in Granite Bay, CA
"My wife has been a resident for two years. I have never once regretted trusting her to them. As much as I miss having my wife home I feel relieved that she is being treated with the utmost care."
Richard
Husband of a Resident in Lincoln, NE
"My mom has lived in the community for three years. The staff is cheerful and they truly care about mom and my family. They accommodate every need. I trust them with the person who is the most precious to me, my mother!"
Barbara
Daughter of a Resident in Oakdale, CA
"I made the right choice for my parents and for me! I feel comfortable and at ease knowing that the staff is caring for my folks with fun, helpfulness, compassion, understanding and expertise."
Nancy
Daughter of Residents in Lincoln, NE
Community Leadership
Each member of our team has been carefully selected. We first seek out individuals that embrace our core values: professionalism, integrity, commitment and compassion. Additionally, empathy, great communication and willingness to go the extra mile are key attributes for anyone tasked with serving the residents of Serra Sol.
Susie Peterson
Executive Director
As Executive Director of Serra Sol Memory Care, Susie Peterson leads a team of caring professionals focused on providing excellent care for those with memory loss.
She provides a wide range of experience, both in and out of senior care. She began her career in marketing and sales for the News-Gazette, a daily newspaper in Central Illinois before moving to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, where she served as a Claims Supervisor and National Facilitator for BCBS Customer Service Program, “Signature Service”.
Susie’s first taste of senior living was in her next role, a Family and Community Relations Director of a continuing care retirement community. It was here that she developed a passion for senior living and particularly, memory care. Although it wasn’t in her job description, Susie began spending time with residents with memory loss, getting to know their personal interests and passions. In her words, she “fell in love” with memory care.
Soon after, Susie transitioned to a position with the Alzheimer’s Association, where she spent two years directing fundraising for numerous walk events in the state of Nebraska, including The Longest Day and The Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The focus of each event was to raise funds that went to support finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. She also led support groups for family caregivers, provided education for families and professionals and worked with many local senior living communities. In was in this role that she was approached by Agemark Senior Living to lead a new local memory care community.
Susie was then hired as the Executive Director of CountryHouse in Kearney, Nebraska, a community that exclusively provided memory care services for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. The community was fairly new, and Susie’s leadership and guidance proved instrumental to the success of the community. In her time as Executive Director, she and her team helped countless residents affected by dementia, and provided support to their families as well. After three years in this position, Susie moved to New Mexico and took an Executive Director position at another company. But she didn’t forget her Agemark family, and a short time later, chose to return to the company, relocating to sunny San Juan Capistrano to serve as Executive Director of Serra Sol Memory Care.
Susie holds Assisted Living Administrators Licenses in Nebraska, New Mexico and California, is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a trained facilitator for the Virtual Dementia Tour. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with a business minor from the University of Illinois.
She has four adult children: Abby, Rob, Jack and Mark, and three grandchildren. In her free time, she loves spending time with family, in the sunshine and in the water.
Jeffrey Martinez
Senior Living Consultant
Jeffrey Martinez has served as our community’s Senior Living Consultant since September 2022. In his role, he works closely with families and residents considering the difficult decision of memory care. He provides a listening ear and an empathetic outlook with the goal of ensuring Serra Sol is a great fit for their needs.
Jeffrey brings more than a decade of experience in senior living to our community. He’s worked at communities in both Southern and Northern California. He is Certified Dementia Practitioner and holds a Healthy Senior Living Certification from The American Heart Association.
Jeffrey is passionate about helping and serving others, which is why he chose a career in Senior Living. A family member who also worked with seniors inspired his career journey. He truly loves what he does and is thankful to have found his calling.
Aide Alba Dayfallah
Director of Nursing
Aide Alba joined the Serra Sol team as Director of Nursing in November 2022. She oversees the physical wellness of all residents of the community.
She brings a decade of experience in senior care to her role, with more than six of those years overseeing resident care as Director of Wellness at an independent and assisted living and memory care community in Whittier, CA. In this position, she oversaw a team of med techs and caregivers and worked closely with more than 100 residents, their families and physicians to ensure outstanding care for all. Prior to that, she was a med tech and caregiver and also gained experience as a medical assistant.
She earned her LVN from Stanbridge University in Irvine, CA in October 2012. She is fluent in both Spanish and English. She also holds an RCFE license. Aide is passionate about teaching and training and takes pride in being available to staff, families and residents for any questions they may have. She appreciates the trust that families put in Serra Sol to provide outstanding care for their loved ones and works diligently to ensure all in her care are happy and healthy.
Aide is engaged to her high school sweetheart. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of eight! In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, the beach and spending time with family.
Lorena Arriaga
Marketing Assistant
Lorena Arriaga joined Serra Sol in a Marketing Assistant role in the summer of 2022. She’s proud to assist our community as well as prospective residents in families. Lorena finds getting to know those who are considering our services extremely rewarding and strives to listen and help them during the difficult decision of choosing memory care.
Lorena’s previous work experience includes serving as a market lead for an investment group, spending time in digital marketing, as well as serving as a marketing assistant in real estate.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on data analytics and marketing from Concordia University-Irvine in 2022, where she earned a 3.9 GPA. In her spare time, Lorena cultivates her passion for fashion and clothing design. In 2018, she placed first in a FIDM fashion show and continues to participate in this event.
Janice Callanan
Life Enrichment Coach
Janice Callanan influences the social, spiritual, intellectual and physical wellness of Serra Sol residents as the community’s Life Enrichment Coach. Activities at Serra Sol include exercise, arts & crafts, cooking & baking, games, music, entertainment and much more. She also takes residents on outings and daily scenic drives around lovely San Juan Capistrano.
Her move to Serra Sol was prompted by the desire to be part of building a new community that serves those with memory care needs in Orange County. Prior to joining our community, Janice was the Director of Resident Engagement at another local memory care community for eleven years.
Janice began spending time with seniors as a young girl with her Girl Scout troop. She remembers how much fun it was to spend time with residents at her local nursing home. After a 20-year career in customer service and the owner of a cosmetics studio and nail salon, she switched her focus to serving the elderly.
Janice grew up in Connecticut. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Science. She’s thrilled to now make California her home. Creatively minded, she loves bringing a sense of fun to Serra Sol and sharing new ideas with other Agemark communities.
Billy Brown
Maintenance Supervisor
Robert Mares
Dining Services Manager
Robert Mares joined the Serra Sol team in August 2022. He brings not only wonderful culinary experience but also, a strong desire to contribute positively to the lives of seniors in our care. He chose to work for Serra Sol because of the company’s vision to treat people like family.
Following culinary school, he began working in senior living communities. Robert chose this line of work because of the amazing environment and the sense of purpose he gains through preparing dishes that bring joy to residents – and maybe even spark great memories!
Following culinary school, he began working in senior living communities. Robert chose this line of work because of the amazing environment and the sense of purpose he gains through preparing dishes that bring joy to residents – and maybe even spark great memories!
Robert lives in Orange County with his wife, two children and the family’s mini Goldendoodle.
Jennifer Rivera
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Rivera serves as Serra Sol’s Administrative Assistant. A right-hand to our Executive Director, Jennifer helps ensure the community is running smoothly in all areas.
Serving as a caretaker for her grandmother at the end of her life was a rewarding experience for Jennifer. She loves being around seniors, talking to them and hearing their stories. Directly prior to joining Serra Sol, she worked at a nursing and rehabilitation facility.
Jennifer is currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in anthropology and cultural anthropology. Additionally, she is a Certified Nursing Assistant.
In her spare time, she enjoys visiting Disneyland, the zoo, watching Star Wars and spending time with her cat, Fred.
Leticia Higares, LVN
Corporate Nurse
Leticia Higares brings a wealth of experience in Assisted Living and Memory Care to Serra Sol Memory Care. As Agemark’s corporate nurse, she helps oversee Directors of Nursing at Agemark’s seven California communities.
Before being elevated to her current role, Leticia was the Executive Director at Astoria Senior Living and Memory Care in Oakdale, CA.
Prior to joining Agemark, she served as a Health and Wellness Director of six years. She is a Licensed Vocational Nurse and spent a decade as an HR manager. She holds a degree in Business Administration.
Leticia and her husband, David, have four children and three dogs. She was born and raised in the Bay Area.
Join Our Team
Interested in a career in senior living? We’re looking to add talented members to our team. We choose employees who emulate the values that we hold as a company: Compassion, Commitment, Professionalism and Integrity.
If this describes you, apply for an opportunity today.