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About
Modena Reserve at Kensington
Modena Reserve at Kensington is a senior living community in Kensington, Maryland, offering extraordinary Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. Residents enjoy the highest standards in safety, engaging programs, best-in-class amenities, exemplary service and an abundance of elegance.
Why Modena Reserve at Kensington?
Excited to keep savoring all the best that life has to offer, but ready to be free from day-to-day concerns? Modena Reserve at Kensington offers you an extraordinary blend of sophistication, excitement, beauty and convenience. This is 5-star hospitality: an unparalleled choice for senior living in the highly desirable location of Kensington, Maryland.
Our commitment to excellence is reflected in each area of living; Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.
Core Values
For us, these are not just words on a wall. These are words we live by. They set the tone of Modena Reserve at Kensington and for every Solera Senior Living community.
Communication
We speak openly and honestly as a collaborative team and proactively appreciate team members for their positive contributions
Compassion
We are empathetic, caring, appreciative, fair and inclusive
Commitment
We consistently strive to exceed service and safety standards and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents, loved ones, guests and colleagues
Creativity
We continuously enhance the ways we serve our community
What makes us different?
It is rare that charm and history can blend so perfectly with exquisite design, state-of-the-art technology, dynamic wellness, and breathtaking surroundings. Modena Reserve at Kensington stands apart for excellence that equals or surpasses the finest hotel or resort. Our desire is for you to feel right at home in the neighborhood you’ve come to love, knowing your expectations for the finest will be met.
Reflecting the deep local pride in Kensington, our senior living community is a mix of two historic buildings, painstakingly remodeled to preserve their original character, and a new building. Our location next to the Kensington train depot puts you amidst a delightful hub of social activity, energy and opportunities for all generations to mix.
Meet The Team
Elena Benedetti Price
Executive Director
Elena loves being in on things from the beginning, having been part of opening new communities before in her 27 years in senior living and 40+ in sales. Modena Reserve at Kensington was no exception. “I love helping families and their loved ones with one of their most important decisions,” she says. “It’s important for them to know that this can be a new and exciting chapter. My goal is to ensure that each person feels their needs will be met when they move into the community.” While each of Solera’s core values is important, Elena especially connects with compassion. “Listening to families and prospective residents, understanding what they are going through, their hopes and fears, and what matters most to them as they think of making a move to a senior living community—it’s a true job of compassion.” Elena has learned a great deal from the many residents she has assisted. “I love the connection, their stories, getting to know their kids, grandkids and even their pets. Everyone becomes part of the Modena Family and it is a big part of my life every day.” Speaking of family, Elena credits her Italian heritage for her love of cooking, spending Sundays with the entire family, and her current guilty pleasure: helping plan her son’s wedding. She also loves listening to the Dave Matthews Band, watching favorites movies like Moonstruck and Rudy, and reading. Great Dane/Aussie mix, Roxy, keeps her busy with excursions to dog parks. Perfect vacation? A good book either at the ocean with a nice breeze or at the mountains surrounded by beautiful fall foliage, all shared with family and friends.
Jim Elchynski
Director of Sales and Marketing
Solera Senior Living’s passion for providing seniors with best-in-class services is what attracted Jim to Modena Reserve at Kensington. “The community is stunning and is matched with caring and involved residents,” he says. “There is real sense of community between both residents and team members.” As a sales counselor with 30 years in sales in healthcare and in senior living, Jim appreciates the connections and relationships that can form with seniors and their families. “Building trust and rapport is essential.” He also holds the core value of commitment in high regard. “For me, commitment represents dedication, reliability, and unwavering support; a willingness to invest time and effort to be there for someone even in the face of challenges or obstacles.” Jim earned his BS from Towson University in Maryland. For him, spending time with his wife, Janet, and daughters Sara and Emily in the great outdoors brings him the greatest happiness. He also enjoys fishing, cooking and grilling, football, movies, landscaping, and a wide range of music. And don’t forget time with Bodie the dog and Dash the cat. Perfect vacation? A cabin in the woods next to a stream in the middle of nowhere, accompanied by family and canine companion, with time for cooking on an open fire, fishing, and hiking, and for sure, relaxing on a hammock.
Mimi Christenson
Director of Life Engagement
Mimi loves to engage with seniors. In her previous six years in senior living as an Activity and Volunteer Coordinator, she learned a great deal from the people she served. “I love interacting with residents,” she says. “I learn so much about life and history. I have loved being around seniors since I was a child.”
Now as Director of Life Engagement at Modena Reserve at Kensington, Mimi can put her skills and experience to even greater use. “Compassion is the core value that speaks most to me,” she says. It’s clear that Mimi is very good at what she does. She came to Modena Reserve after a new resident—who previously lived in a senior living community where Mimi was working— let her know about the opportunity to work with Solera.
Free time for Mimi can include running, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She can watch the movie “Fifth Element” 1,000 times. Guilty pleasures? Spicy foods and collecting and wearing all kinds of boots.
Alonso Roche
Culinary Director
Alonso has a confession to make: he’ll easily eat a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s “Phish Food” ice cream if you let him! Guilty pleasure aside, he loves bringing joy and evoking memories through food. And as Culinary Director, he has many opportunities to do so. In fact, his professional goal is to make connections with people and communities through his cooking.
He’s worked in the culinary field for 20+ years, having earned a Culinary degree from L’Academie de Cuisine, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College. In his spare time, Alonso likes to watch Hollywood musicals, Star Wars and James Bond Films, and cook comfort food. A perfect vacation for him would be “eating my way through Japan.”
Alonso and wife, Maria, have two children and four cats. And most likely, lots of ice cream in the freezer.
Karen Page
Director of Wellness
Solera Senior Living’s commitment to delivering exceptional care to seniors definitely drew Karen to Modena Reserve at Kensington, but she already was on board in her heart. She became a nurse to honor her love for her grandmother.
“She was always very special, and when her condition declined following a stroke, it was my honor to care of her,” says Karen. It’s one reason why the core value of compassion is something Karen holds dear. “You have to put yourself in the resident’s shoes and understand what they are going through. Listening to their stories made me realize we are all one in the same, though each resident’s needs differ. These differences can bring us together and make our community inclusive and welcoming.”
Karen has 18 years of experience in senior living. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Chamberlain University and her Associate Nursing degree from Prince George’s Community College.
Spare time is busy as well. Karen loves to dance, cooks “a mean jerk chicken,” and plays an active role in women’s ministry in her church. She loves to spend time with her husband, four children, and three grandkids.
Favorite vacation? Jamaica, where her family is. Also traveling and cruising parts of the Caribbean.
Favorite quote? “Love conquers all things!”
Stanley Gore
Assisted Living Manager
When you have a genuine passion for working with seniors, you just naturally want to be where they are being given the freedom and flexibility to live an exceptional life. So it makes perfect sense for Stanley to be where he is: serving as Assisted Living Manager at Modena Reserve at Kensington. “Spending time with our residents is what I enjoy most,” says Stanley. Commitment is the core value that speaks most to him. He’s been in senior living for 7 years and has 5 years of experience in home health care. When he’s not busy helping his team keep residents engaged and involved at Modena Reserve, you might find Stanley watching a good movie. He also is a fan of the television series “Prison Break.” And he loves having some time to relax with family, including two grown children. Perfect vacation? Hawaii.
Jarai Bah
Director of Memory Care
For Jarai, the prospect of joining a young company with such strong core values was a huge draw. “Solera Senior Living provides excellent senior services, especially to our residents in Memory Care,” she says. “I am most passionate about the most vulnerable population, those living with all forms of dementia. Here, I can advocate for them and ensure they receive top- notch care, and make the all the ‘why not’ possible.”
Jarai’s passion runs deep, having lost both sets of grandparents when she was young. “That
created a void for me, one that is filled by each senior I encounter.” Compassion is her guiding force. “You must have the highest degree of compassion, love and kindness, as well as heart, to provide exceptional care for Memory Care residents and support for families and the team. I say, forget dementia; focus on the person and treat everyone how you would want to be treated.”
Leisure time is busy as well. She loves being with her family, which includes her mother, son, two daughters, and her niece. She also enjoys music, dancing, fashion, and cooking. And she can watch “The Black Panther” many times over and is a fan of Cassava Leaves and brown rice. Jarai brings 21 years of senior living experience to her position. She attended Northern Virginia Community College. Perfect vacation? “The beaches in my birth country of Sierra Leone.”
Thomas Gamble
Director of Building Operations
Overseeing building maintenance and operations of Modena Reserve at Kensington is a big job, but for Thomas, it’s really the small things that bring him the greatest satisfaction.
“I enjoy the little moments when I can make a resident smile or improve their day in a small way,” says Thomas, who was raised by his great-grandmother and has always had a passion for helping the senior community. “I also have great memories of visiting the senior community where my mother was a nurse.”
Creativity is important to Thomas, especially finding creative solutions to challenges and thinking outside the box. And when it comes to spare time, you’ll probably find Thomas outdoors with his family. In fact, he especially enjoys hiking with them in search of waterfalls. He’s also a fan of sushi and any type of racing.
Perfect vacation? A cabin on a lake with his wife and three sons.
Mary Johnston
Sales Counselor
All roads have led Mary to Modena Reserve at Kensington. “My life has come full circle and I’m
exactly where I’ve always been meant to be,” she says.
Her journey to senior living includes very special memories of growing up with her grandmother, as well as volunteering in assisted living as a teenager and guiding her mother
through both assisted living and hospice. Her journey has given her unique insight into helping
families navigate senior living. “As a sales counselor, I use my experience to help families make the decision that is right for
them while helping them feel welcome and informed.” Through it all, compassion is Mary’s personal north star. “Showing respect for everyone, no matter where they are in their journey or how they got there, is important to me.” Mary earned her BA in Communications from American University. She loves spending time with her family, as well as playing tennis, getting outside, traveling, and reading—she’s been in
the same book club for 25 years. Guilty pleasure? Watching The Voice on television and dreaming of singing in a band. Perfect vacation? Beach. Beach. Beach. (Or a safari). As long as her family is there.
Gabriel Sabo
Move-In Coordinator
What could be a greater service than helping new residents feel welcome and at home from day one? “It’s so rewarding to help make their transition smooth,” says Gabby. “Moving can be an emotional experience, and I strive to make each resident feel heard, valued, and at home from the very start.”
For Gabby, it’s a matter of connecting with seniors and making a difference in their lives. “I love welcoming new residents into our community,” she says. Meeting each new resident and getting to know their stories is what she most enjoys, and also why compassion is the core value she calls upon most.
Gabby received her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and worked as a move-in coordinator with a community in Pennsylvania. She enjoys going home to visit family and friends, watching the Washington Capitals, and describes herself as an aerial enthusiast. She also likes spending time with feline pal, Binx.
Perfect vacation? Traveling the world one drink at a time at Epcot.
Aaliyah Whitley
Business Office Manager
Commitment is the driving force behind Aaliyah. She’s dedicated to what she does, which is to come in every day and serve residents in her capacity as Business Office Director.
“I enjoy being completely hand’s on with both team members and residents,” says Aaliyah. She especially appreciates how Solera promotes from within. “I came to Solera as a Concierge and worked very hard to learn all aspects of the Business Director position, which I now hold,” she says. “I’ve always had an interest in senior living because of my relationship with my grandmother.”
When she’s not busy with the business of Modena Reserve at Kensington, Aaliyah likes to spend time with her children Aaden, Amari and Amir, as well as her grandmother, Helen. (And don’t forget pittie, Skylar, as well as Scrappy, the bearded dragon.) She also loves watching Greys Anatomy over and over, as well as dining at her favorite restaurant.
Perfect vacation? Going to Bali. Guilty pleasure: brownies right out of the oven.
Our Manager
Solera Senior Living has a singular focus: to develop, own and operate communities that will inspire a better quality of life for seniors. With personalized service, engaging programs, and best-in-class amenities, Solera’s innovative approach elevates the entire senior living experience.
Our Partners
At Modena Reserve at Kensington, we believe in working closely with the surrounding community to afford our residents important opportunities. Aligning with local colleges will enhance our continuing education offerings. Partnering with kindergarten and secondary schools can lead to reading groups and mentoring programs. Connecting with local hospitals will allows us to create a preferred provider network for everything from hospital care to home health services to pharmaceuticals in order to improve the coordination of care and outcomes for our residents. As more opportunities for partnerships emerge, Modena Reserve Kensington is ready to serve as a strategic partner.
