Valage Senior Living prepares for opening

With opening anticipated in Fall 2024, Valage Senior Living at Carson Valley announced the selection of an executive director and a director of sales and marketing.

Work on the $8 million senior living facility located at 973 Ironwood Drive has been underway for around a year, but the project has been in the planning stage for much longer.

With a 56-unit assisted living and 46-unit memory care project, the integral senior living community will employ more than 60 full-time employees, including an in-house chef and culinary team, activities and wellness team and a dedicated nursing staff.

The assisted living apartments range from studio to one- and two-bedroom units. In addition to walk-in closets, large designer bathrooms and full-size refrigerators, these apartments also will have their own WiFi networks and lighting systems that feature nighttime safety features.

Tamra Tsanos joins as executive director, bringing more than 13 years of experience in senior living, and Karen Malekos-Smith assumes the role of director of sales and marketing, leveraging her three-decade career in advocating for families and seniors.

Tsanos’s extensive background includes roles at Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay, Brookdale Senior Living, Mercy Retirement and Care Center and Belmont Village Senior Living. Committed to creating innovative lifestyle programs, she plans to provide a fun, supportive environment for residents, incorporating Integral Senior Living’s signature programs and top-tier amenities. Tsanos also aims to enhance resident safety through collaborations with third-party therapy providers and the integration of cutting-edge technology, such as the Safely-You fall monitoring system.

“I am honored to join Valage Senior Living at Carson Valley and lead a community that prioritizes both resident and employee wellbeing,” says Tsanos. “My goal is to create an environment where residents thrive in a supportive and engaging atmosphere, cared for by a team who feels empowered to deliver the highest quality service.”

Malekos-Smith, who assumes the role of Director of Sales and Marketing, has held leadership roles at nationally recognized senior living communities spanning all levels of care. She also served as the clinical manager of Speech, Language Pathology & Audiology at Mills-Peninsula Health Services and later as the director of donor relations at Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation, championing numerous philanthropic and community outreach projects.

Malekos-Smith’s clinical background as a speech pathologist, coupled with personal experiences with dementia and Parkinson's disease, uniquely prepares her to provide guidance, empathy and compassion to help others navigate the transition to senior living. She is excited to contribute to Valage’s mission and looks forward to fostering strong connections with the community.

Valage at Carson Valley will offer Integral Senior Living’s signature programs, including Elevate Dining, Vibrant Life and Generations Memory Care, promoting connections and a sense of belonging. Future residents will also enjoy top-tier amenities like an open-concept design, resort-style spaces, an outdoor terrace, a dog park, an in-house theater and a salon and spa.