Local woman with Alzheimer’s rediscovers love of cooking

Janet Lastartza, 91, discovered her passion for cooking after marrying her husband Sandy in 1953. As the story goes, Janet and Sandy met at a dance hall when she was 14 years old. Given her age, Sandy thought better than to ask her on a date and waited until he saw her there three years later while on leave from the Army. The two fell in love and were married, and Janet learned how to cook from her mother-in-law, an Italian immigrant.

Janet spent the bulk of her married years hosting parties and cooking for her growing family. She hosted clam bakes (though she didn’t eat clams), had small dinner parties, and always had a warm meal on the table for Sandy and their three children.

Unfortunately, this became harder for Janet in recent years, and in 2019 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, which affects more than 6 million Americans, makes it difficult for people to complete normal daily tasks such as getting dressed, brushing your teeth – and cooking.

“As the disease progresses, people begin to lose their ability to do things that once brought them joy,” said Kim Dike, Community Life Director at The Watermark at Vistawilla, the assisted living and memory care community where Lastarza lives. “When Janet started talking about how much she loved cooking and hosting parties, we knew we had to find a way to help her do that again.”

Dike and her team, with help from Janet’s daughter Mary Jo Ratliff, have spent the last few months discussing how they can get Janet back in the kitchen. And on May 30, a day before Janet's 91st birthday, they helped her prepare two of her signature dishes – Hawaiian chicken and banana bread.

Janet received help from the community’s Nayas, Watermark’s certified dementia caregivers. The Nayas helped Janet compile a grocery list, go shopping, and prepare the meal in the company of her two daughters - Mary Jo Ratliff and Amy Hill.

“It’s probably been five or six years since mom has been in the kitchen,” said Ratliff. “It brought her so much joy because of my father. He was a great help, and they were a true team – partners and soulmates.”

The dishes the community selected for Janet to prepare were featured recipes in the Sanford Herald when Janet was highlighted as the Cook of the Week in March 1981. The nostalgia of these dishes may play a role in Janet remembering her years of hosting, as researchers have found a direct link between nostalgia and memory.

Food memories are also stronger than others because they invigorate all the senses. The smell, taste, sight, sound, and touch of a particular meal can evoke memories of sharing that meal with a loved one, or in Janet’s case, being featured in the newspaper preparing the meal.

“I’m so grateful for Kim and the associates at Watermark for making this all possible,” said Ratliff. “They have all been so kind to my mom and I see how much her demeanor and attitude have improved since she moved in.”

Watermark Retirement Communities, which manages The Watermark at Vistawilla and more than 70 communities nationwide, takes a unique approach to memory care. The Internal Staff Training by Watermark Retirement Communities is recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association® for incorporating the evidenced-based Dementia Care Practice Recommendations in the following topic areas: Alzheimer’s and dementia, person-centered care, assessment and care planning, activities of daily living, and behaviors and communication.

*The Alzheimer’s Association statement of recognition is not an endorsement of the professional training or evaluation of the care provided by the organization. The statement is valid for two years from the date of issue.

About The Watermark at Vistawilla

Located in Winter Springs, Fla., The Watermark at Vistawilla is an 87-apartment assisted living and memory care community located at 1519 E State Rd 434. Differentiators of the new community include certified associates, continuous care and hands-on educational programming. Owned and managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, The Watermark at Vistawilla is committed to creating an extraordinary community where people thrive. For more information, visit vistawilla.watermarkcommunities.com.

About Watermark Retirement Communities®

Watermark creates extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive. We believe aging is about renewal rather than retirement. Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice, fine amenities, integrative wellness and innovative programs including the award-winning Watermark University featuring a wide variety of engaging classes for residents and area seniors. Watermark has been named in the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute and published on Fortune.com. A privately held company with a reputation for over 30 years for service, innovation, integrity and financial stability, Watermark manages more than 70 retirement communities in 22 states coast to coast. Based in Tucson AZ, Watermark is ranked as the nation’s 10th-leading senior housing operator by the American Seniors Housing Association. Visit watermarkcommunities.com for more information.